Gukesh refuses to touch trophy after becoming youngest chess world champion. The reason is…
D Gukesh said he did not want to touch the world championship trophy and kept the promise during the post-match photoshoot.
There are countless examples to suggest that D Gukesh is not just another Grand Master - mind you, being one is itself a sign of being special. But Gukesh, as you would call it, is among the best of the best. The way he always arranges the chess board after every game, irrespective of its outcome, or the way he lets his emotions flow after a tournament - these are mannerisms that make him unique, but above all, they make him human. After becoming the youngest world champion, it would have been very normal for Gukesh to lose control at the very sight of the trophy, go gaga over it and even demand to sleep with it as it has been the latest trend with stars across the globe. But no. Not Gukesh. He even refused to touch it, let alone celebrate with it.
He had his reasons, obviously. With Gukesh, nothing comes without a reason. He said he would prefer to wait before the official ceremony.
“It's beautiful,” Gukesh had a childlike smile when he first saw the trophy after beating China's Ding Liren in a hard-fought final. It was all that he had dreamt for since the age of seven but he was ready to wait a bit longer. Patient, disciplined, curbing the instincts based on the situation and extremely sure of what he wants to do - if ever there was something that summed up the 18-year-old Indian better.
"Seeing it up close for the first time... I don't want to touch it, I want to lift it at the closing ceremony!" Gukesh could be heard saying in a small clip posted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
The closing ceremony is to be held here later this evening.
Gukesh is the second Indian after the great Viswanathan Anand to clinch the title that the latter held five times in his illustrious career. He had to wait till the last game (14th) and was helped by a 'blunder' from the defending champion to create history at the age of 18.
"I've been dreaming about this and living this moment since I was 6 or 7. Every chess player wants to live this moment. I am living my dream," Gukesh said after his win on Thursday.
He is expected to return to India over the weekend to a rapturous welcome in his home city.
Gukesh stated that he would love to fight it out against Carlsen at some point. The Norwegian maverick decided not to defend his title in 2023 after winning the world championship in 2013.
"Winning World Chess Championship does not mean I am the best player, obviously that is Magnus Carlsen. I want to reach the level Magnus has achieved," Gukesh said.
"Obviously playing against Magnus in the world championship would be amazing, it would be the toughest challenge there is in chess. It is up to Magnus, but I would love to test myself against the best player in the world."
But Carlsen ruled that out.
"I am not part of this circus anymore," said Carlsen in a general reference to world title clashes.
Carlsen also praised Gukesh's team and said they did a good job.
"It is becoming progressively harder (to play mainstream openings) all main lines are analysed so they had to jump a bit," Carlsen said of the opening choices made by Gukesh.
"I have generally kept it fairly risk-free with the white pieces, I have tried not to let things go out of control," he added.
The youngster has enjoyed a stellar year, starting with his win in the Candidates Tournament in Canada which made him the youngest ever challenger to the world title. He then played a crucial role in India winning the men's team gold at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
Recommended Topics