D. Gukesh, India, playing in the 44th Chess Olympiad held in Mamallapuram. | Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj
Teenaged Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh stunned former world rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan in the final to win the World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania event here.
Gukesh emerged victorious in a topsy-turvy summit clash late on April 9, 2023.
After a missed opportunity in game 1, Gukesh lost the next game against Abdusattorov to use his “extra life” and start the match again.
The first game of the ‘new’ match was a draw after an eternal check from Gukesh. He won the next game to become the champion.
Both Gukesh and Abdusattorov secured a spot in Armageddon’s Grand Finale in September.
The 16-year-old Indian beat a field that included former world classical champion Vladimir Kramnik, Daniil Dubov, Yangyi Yu (China), Vidit Gujrathi and Karthikeyan Murali (both India) and Param Maghsoodloo (Iran), besides Abdusattorov.
“Delighted to win the exciting event Armageddon championship series 2023-Asia and Oceania group by @theworldchess! Great relief to finally win a faster time control elite event and enjoyed many new experiences of how the event is played in the middle lights, makeup stuf,” Gukesh tweeted after the victory.
Former world champion Viswanathan Anand hailed the young GM’s success.
“Congratulations @DGukesh. A very good achievement especially in another time control. Proud to see our @WacaChess mentee make us proud again,” Anand tweeted.
Each day of the tournament, matches consist of two blitz games and, if necessary, an Armageddon game (five minutes for White, four for Black).
The Armageddon game is a variant of blitz chess to determine a winner after a series of drawn games. A drawn game at Armageddon counts as a win for Black.
