SMART MOVES: WHEN KNIGHT BECOMES KING

SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN N the days after D Gukesh became the youngest to win the Candidates, the International Chess Federation (FIDE), tweeted an official video from when the Indian was 12 years.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

"I want to become the world champion," he said then. He's now mere months away from challenging China's Ding Liren in the summit clash. The win would make him only the second Indian to become the champion and first since his idol, Viswanathan Anand.

In five years, the Indian, the third youngest GM in history, has already blossomed into one of the finest Classical chess exponents. If you want somebody to go for an all-out attack, call Gukesh. If you want somebody to launch periodical skirmishes while maintaining structure, he's already getting there. He has already displayed his razorsharp moves, even as he maintains ultra calm.

Going into the 14th and final round of the Candidates (the elite eight-player field from where the winner goes to play the reigning world champion) on April 21, the 17-year-old was faced with a general dilemma. He was leading the field by 0.5 points and was up against Hikaru Nakamura, one of three players, half-a-point behind. In one of the other games, Ian Nepomniachtchi faced Fabiano Caruana, two players who could still catch Gukesh provided there was a winner in that match.