Gukesh won the “Player of the Year” and “Best Young Achievers Male” awards
In 2022 Gukesh became the sixth Indian to break the 2700 Elo-rating mark, and the youngest GM from India to be rated above 2700. With a record-breaking score in the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India and an exceptional performance at the WR Chess Masters which granted him with 12 rating points and is now ranked #20 in the world with 2730, Gukesh won the “Player of the Year” award by the Asian Chess Federation and the “Best Young Achievers Male” award at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2023.
D. Gukesh is undoubtedly one of the strongest players of his generation as in 2022 he became the sixth Indian to break the 2700 Elo-rating mark, the youngest Indian GM to be rated above 2700, gold medalist at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai India with a record-breaking score of 9/11 and a 2867 performance, the youngest player to defeat Magnus Carlsen, when he beat the World Champion at the Aimchess Rapid Tournament, and now World No.20 with a 2730 live rating after he tied 1st with Levon Aronian and Ian Nepomniachtchi at the first WR Chess Masters 2023.
This rapid evolution granted Gukesh an invitation to the World Chess Armageddon Championship among Vladimir Kramnik, Vidit Gujrathi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Daniil Dubov.
Today the Indian prodigy has been honored with the “Player of the Year” award by the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) for his success at the Chess Olympiad in 2022.
A few days prior, on 28th February 2023, Gukesh has also been awarded with the “Best Young Achievers Male” award by the Sportstar Aces Awards 2023. Gukesh was nominated for the award along with Vishwanath Suresh (Boxing), Payas Jain (Table Tennis) and S Gurunaidu (Weightlifting).
Another Indian prodigy, Nihal Sarin, also won the Spirit of Sports award and it’s his second consecutive award at the Sportstar Aces Awards after he won the BYJU’s Young Athlete of the Year (Male) award in 2022.
“...I am thankful to Sportstar for recognizing my efforts and giving me the award which is a great honor for me. 2022 was a very special year for me. I learned a lot of things, I won quite a few strong open tournaments also the Olympiad was a very memorable experience for me. I hope to keep learning and keep getting better. Hopefully 2023 will be even better. Thank you.” Gukesh said.
“First of all, I would like to thank The Hindu group and Sportstar for nominating me for this award. I am not a very good speaker at all. So I really don’t have much to say. Thank you very much.” Nihal Sarin said.
