12-year-old is youngest Indian GM, snatches record from state-mate Praggnanandhaa

Tamil Nadu lad D Gukesh has become the second youngest Grandmaster in the world and the youngest Indian to achieve the feat at 12 years, seven months and 17 days, erasing the mark set by his state-mate R Praggnanandhaa in June last year. He achieved his third and final GM norm at the ongoing 17th Delhi International Open Chess tournament after beating compatriot DK Sharma in the ninth round. Gukesh is India’s 59th Grandmaster.

Ukraine’s Sergey Karjakin remains the youngest ever GM, having achieved the feat at the age of 12 years and seven months in 2002. In December last year, the Chennai boy had narrowly missed out on the record when he lost his third round game against GM Daniele Vocaturo of Italy at the Sunway Sitges International in Barcelona. Gukesh, however, put the setback behind him to beat the record held by his friend Praggnanandhaa, who was 12 years and 10 months old when he became India’s youngest GM.

The youngster, who idolises the legendary Bobby Fischer and Viswanathan Anand, said: “I am very happy and excited to have become a Grandmaster. I am delighted to have won the third (GM) norm and the title. I would like to play Anand sir sometime.”

Gukesh started playing the game with his parents, who are doctors, and soon he was enrolled in a neighbourhood academy. “At the age of seven, I joined a summer camp in my school. MS Bhaskar, the coach at the camp, spotted my talent and encouraged me,” said Gukesh. He is presently coached by Grandmaster Vishnu Prasad.