Credit: Twitter
Indian Chess legend Viswanathan Anand hailed 17-year-old Grandmaster D Gukesh overtaking him in FIDE rankings as a ‘historic’ achievement. Notably, earlier on Tuesday, August 1, Gukesh overtook Anand as the highest-ranked Indian in the International Chess Federation. The teen Grandmaster took down Azerbaijan's Misratdin Iskandarov in the second-round match of the World Cup in Baku to overtake Anand.
The 53-year-old Anand told PTI that it is a historic day for Indian chess. The five-time world champion chess Grandmaster said, "Obviously, it is a historic day for Indian chess, what Gukesh has achieved. Even though I have been semi-retired for a couple of years, still to lose a spot you have held for 37 years is, well it's historic, I have to admit that.”
Anand added, "But maybe what is even more hopeful is that Gukesh has actually entered the top 10 independents of his crossing me. There is no sign that he is really ready to stop, that is fantastic news for us.”
Anand worked with Gukesh through the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy and expressed his happiness over the same. Anand went on to say, "I was able to work with him and support him and his parents in this journey. It is wonderful for Indian chess."
Anand made it to the World's top-10 in July 1991 and remained India's top-ranked player in all published lists since 1987.
