Almost exactly one month before his World Chess Championship duel with reigning world champion Ding Liren, 18-year-old Gukesh experienced his first loss in classical format at the European Club Cup 2024 against 34-year-old Russian grandmaster Dmitry Andreikin. This is Gukesh’s first defeat in the classical format in 38 games.
The European Club Cup is one of the last tune up events for Gukesh as he plots his quest to become the youngest ever world champion in the sport.
Gukesh has been edging closer to achieving the hallowed 2800 rating mark in classical chess along with compatriot Arjun Erigaisi. Earlier this month, Gukesh had reached 2794, which is his peak rating. The defeat for Gukesh against Andreikin means that the Indian teenager’s live rating is now at 2788.5 in the live ratings which are updated in real-time.
Also playing in Gukesh’s team SuperChess at the tournament is Praggnanandhaa, who also experienced defeat against M Amin Tabatabaei.
Eye on World Chess Championship
Gukesh had been unbeaten at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest last month, where he won the individual gold medal while playing on the top board for India with eight wins and two draws. China had avoided Ding Liren facing Gukesh at the Olympiad by resting the world champion.
Gukesh was also unbeaten at the Sinquefield Cup in St Louis before that. At that event, Gukesh vs Ding Liren match had ended in a tame draw.
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Gukesh has only been playing in classical events ever since he qualified for the World Chess Championship by winning the cut-throat Candidates tournament earlier this year in Toronto. The FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 clash will be hosted by Singapore at the Resorts World Sentosa from November 23 to December 13.
The first match of the clash will be held on November 25.
