Gukesh Dommaraju, aged 17, made history as the youngest victor in the men's Candidates chess tournament in Toronto. His draw against Hikaru Nakamura on the tournament's final day secured his triumph, with fellow contenders finishing close behind. With a final score of 9/14, Gukesh now prepares to challenge reigning champion Ding Liren of China for the world chess title later this year.

Reflecting on his remarkable achievement, Gukesh described the final match as "crazy" and admitted to feeling "quite emotional" afterward. Despite his groundbreaking win, Gukesh remained humble, stating that he is primarily focused on the journey ahead and the championship qualification.

Notably, Gukesh's accomplishment garnered widespread support from the Indian diaspora, with many attending the tournament to cheer him on. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Gukesh, acknowledging his extraordinary talent and dedication. However, Gukesh himself downplayed the significance of his record-breaking achievement, emphasizing his joy in simply winning and expressing indifference towards setting records.