OSLO : World champion D Gukesh produced a remarkable defensive display to salvage a draw from a losing position against Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the opening round of Norway Chess on Monday.
Keymer appeared on course for victory for much of the marathon encounter, with an advanced g-pawn seemingly only moments away from promotion. But Gukesh, battling severe time pressure, kept the game alive with a relentless series of checks as his queen darted across the board for more than 50 moves.
After four hours and 38 minutes and 144 moves, the game finally ended in a draw, a result that felt almost like a victory for the 19-year-old Indian.
The save offered a timely reminder of the resilience that helped Gukesh become the youngest undisputed world champion in chess history. Over the past year and a half, the Indian grandmaster has often seen promising positions slip away, but against Keymer he showed the fighting qualities that defined his rise to the top.
The dramatic escape also comes at an important stage for Gukesh, who is expected to defend his world title later this year.
Former world champion Garry Kasparov had previously praised Gukesh’s fighting spirit during the early phase of his reign, calling attention to the teenager’s exceptional composure under pressure.
