Gukesh reveals how Anand vs Carlsen showdown in 2013 shaped his journey: ‘Exactly when I started to learn chess…’

Dommaraju Gukesh was among those present at the Hyatt Regency in Chennai to watch Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand defend his World Championship title against Candidates winner and superstar-in-making Magnus Carlsen 12 years ago.

The Norwegian Grandmaster had already established himself at the world No 1 at that point, having led the FIDE ratings for the first time in 2010 and occupied the top spot continuously since 2011. And it was in the showdown against Anand in 2013 where he won the first of his five world titles.

‘Can still clearly picture the moment’

In a recent episode of iQOO Quest Talk podcast with Nipun Marya, Gukesh opened up on the beginning of his chess journey and the role that the Anand vs Carlsen showdown played in inspiring him to become a world-class player and compete for the world title himself.

“My parents didn’t know chess could be taken as a career like that. I started it like a hobby. My first teacher in school suggested to my parents that maybe I should start taking it a bit more seriously, and I can start playing tournaments,” Gukesh recalled during the conversation.

“It happened between Vishy sir (Viswanathan Anand) and Magnus Carlsen, that was exactly when I started to learn chess,” he continued.

“I can still clearly picture the moment… I went in, saw Vishy sir and Magnus playing inside the glass box, and thought to myself, I actually want to be in there and it happened like after 11 years,” he added.

Gukesh would take a giant stride towards fulfilling that dream 11 years later by becoming the youngest champion in the history of the Candidates Tournament in Toronto in April. And a seesaw FIDE World Championship battle against China’s Ding Liren, Gukesh emerged triumphant by a slender 7.5-6.5 scoreline after winning the final Classical game in dramatic fashion.

The teen GM from Chennai thus became only the second Indian after Anand to be crowned world champion as well as the youngest ever at just 18 years of age – breaking Garry Kasparov’s record.

Gukesh has had a mixed run since his historic World Championship triumph in Singapore – with his runner-up finish at the Tata Steel Chess and his victories over Carlsen in consecutive tournaments (Norway Chess and SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia) being the high points.