India, April 23 -- As 17-year-old Indian teenager D Gukesh was formally handed the gold medal and trophy for winning the 2024 Candidates Tournament at the closing ceremony in Toronto, he was still coming to terms with becoming the youngest ever player to challenge for the chess world championship.

The victory in the Open category at the Candidates, held by the International Chess Federation or Federation Internationale des Echecs or FIDE, was historic.Asked about whether he thought of the possibility of winning this tournament, he told the Hindustan Times, "Not completely but I look at like this, if I manage to stay in good spirits throughout the tournament, it could be possible."

Giving the accolades he has received after clinching the...