2025 FIDE Candidates Tournament: Gukesh Dommaraju Earns Historic Victory in Spain

The 2025 FIDE Candidates Tournament has concluded in stunning fashion, with 18-year-old Indian grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju emerging as the winner—making him the youngest player in history to win the Candidates and qualify for the World Chess Championship match.

Held in Madrid, Spain, the tournament brought together eight of the world's top contenders, each vying for a shot at the world title. The field was stacked with experience and firepower: former world championship challengers Ian Nepomniachtchi and Fabiano Caruana, top-rated teen Alireza Firouzja, rapid phenom Hikaru Nakamura, and rising stars like Praggnanandhaa R and Nijat Abasov. But it was Gukesh who rose above them all, playing with a calm maturity that belied his age.

Gukesh finished the tournament with a score of 9/14, clinching clear first place in a tense final round where nerves ran high. His run included key wins over Caruana and Firouzja, as well as solid draws that kept him in control of the standings. His play was marked by deep preparation, strategic clarity, and a willingness to fight in complex endgames—hallmarks of a future champion.

The result sets up a historic world championship match later this year, where Gukesh will face reigning World Champion Ding Liren of China. It will be the first world title match in modern history to feature an Indian challenger since Viswanathan Anand last held the crown—and a potential changing of the guard between generations.

The Candidates Tournament also saw strong performances from Fabiano Caruana, who tied for second, and Hikaru Nakamura, whose creative and aggressive style kept fans on edge throughout the event. However, critical losses in the final rounds cost both players their shot at first.

This edition of the Candidates wasn’t just about rating and results—it was about the future of chess. Gukesh’s win symbolizes a generational shift in the game, as younger players raised in a post-engine, post-pandemic chess world begin to challenge long-standing hierarchies.

As the chess world turns its attention to the upcoming championship match, one thing is clear: the next era of elite chess is already here—and it’s moving fast. Gukesh D's rise is not only historic, it’s just beginning.