India’s 16-year-old Grandmaster D Gukesh has scripted history as he defeated champion Magnus Carlsen in the preliminary phase of Aimchess Rapid online chess. Gukesh has now become the youngest player to beat Carlsen since he has become the world champion.
Gukesh beat the world No.1 with white pieces early on Monday to move up to the third position in the tournament behind Poland’s Jan-Krzystof Duda (25 points) and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan, 23 points) with 21 points after the 12th round. Gukesh’s 29-move dismantling of the world champion comes a day after his 19-year-old compatriot Arjun Erigaisi had posted a maiden win over the world champion.
Gukesh is 16 years 4 months 20 days while the previous record before his win was R Praggnanandhaa’s 39-move victory over Carlsen in the Airthings Masters in February. Pragg was 16 years 6 months and 10 days old when he defeated the world No.1.
