It’s “the Indian earthquake in Toronto”, said Russian chess legend Garry Kasparov as he lauded teen Grandmaster D. Gukesh for becoming the youngest-ever challenger for the world title, a triumph which marks the “shifting tectonic plates” in the game’s global order.

The 17-year-old Gukesh bettered the record created by none other than Kasparov 40 years ago. The Russian was 22 when he qualified in 1984 to clash with compatriot Anatoly Karpov, making him the youngest challenger of that time.

“Congratulations! The Indian earthquake in Toronto is the culmination of the shifting tectonic plates in the chess world as the 17-year-old Gukesh D will face the Chinese champion Ding Liren for the highest title,” wrote Kasparov on ‘X’, obliquely referring to the Russian domination of the past.

In a picture shared on X, Indian Grandmaster 1 Koneru Humpy, who finished second in the women's event, is flanked by Chinese Grandmasters Zhongyi Tan (champion) on the right and Tingjie Lei (third) at the Candidates Chess 2024. X

Gukesh played out an easy draw with American Hikaru Nakamura in the 14th and final round to finish with nine out of a possible 14 points in the tournament that is held to decide the challenger to the world champion.

The triumph entitles Gukesh a clash against reigning world champion Ding Liren of China in the last quarter of the year.

India’s five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand has spawned a chess culture in India and the country is reaping the rewards of the Grandmaster’s success with thousands of youngsters, mostly in their teens, taking up chess.

Kasparov acknowledged Anand’s contribution to Indian chess, saying, “The ‘children’ of Vishy Anand are on the loose!”

Kasparov was responding to a congratulatory tweet by Grand Chess Tour following Gukesh’s success here.

“Congratulations to Gukesh D for his victory in the FIDE Candidates, securing his place as a challenger in the World Championship Match! We eagerly anticipate his participation in our grand chess tour events!,” wrote Grand Chess Tour on ‘X’.

In another social media post, Kasparov highlighted the shift in the power-centre of chess, saying: “Look at the names of many of the top junior players in the USA and England to see that the Chinese and Indian diaspora are just as passionate to achieve at chess.

“The Kasparov Chess Foundation has watched this wave rise and Gukesh’s success will raise it further,” Kasparov, the undisputed world champion from 1985 till 1993, wrote on ‘X’.

Kasparov, following a dispute with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) set up a rival organisation, the Professional Chess Association.

He was ranked world No. 1 for a record 255 months overall, from 1984 until his retirement from regular competitive chess in 2005.