Gukesh is the youngest player ever to beat Magnus Carlsen as World Champion

16-year-old Indian GM Gukesh D. made chess history in the Aimchess Rapid as he became the youngest player ever to beat Magnus Carlsen as World Champion.

Photo: Stev Bonhage

After his incredible performance at the 44th Chess Olympiad, Gukesh has jumped to World No.18, reached the 2700 rating club and now amazes everyone with a win against the World Champion at the Aimchess Rapid. “What a monumental day in history,” International Master Jovanka Houska said. “It was just an incredible, incredible performance by Gukesh.”

Despite the win, Gukesh wasn’t impressed with his own play. “Obviously, beating Magnus is always special but I was not really very proud of that game,” he said.

Gukesh was 16 years, 4 months and 20 days old while the previous record before Gukesh’s win was Praggnanandhaa’s 39-move victory over Carlsen in the Airthings Masters in February who at the time was 16 years 6 months and 10 days old.

It was Carlsen’s second loss in two days against one of India’s teenagers as he lost the day before against the 19-year-old Arjun Erigaisi. On his losses to young Indians, Carlsen said, “Pragg is the only one I’ve lost multiple times to. Arjun I’ve generally beaten; Gukesh very similar. [...] I think Gukesh has been extremely impressive in classical chess recently. Perhaps this rapid win wasn’t his proudest effort, even though getting a win is always nice.”