D Gukesh becomes youngest candidates chess champion, says '7th round loss fueled my energy'

• D Gukesh becomes the youngest Candidates chess champion
• Asserts seventh-round loss motivated and energised him to secure the title
• Chennai-based player is set to challenge China's Ding Liren for the world championship title later this year

For most athletes victory is usually the biggest motivator but not for history-making teen Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh, who said he got the "energy" to become the youngest Candidates chess champion thanks to his seventh-round loss to Iran's Firouzja Alireza.

The 17-year-old from Chennai, whose father is an ENT surgeon and mother a microbiologist, drew his 14th and final round game against American Hikaru Nakamura to win the prestigious tournament, becoming the youngest challenger for the world championship title.

He will take on China's Ding Liren in that match later this year.

"I was feeling really good from the start but after my seventh round loss against Alireza, I was really upset. It was a painful loss. But the next day I had a rest day and was feeling my absolute best," Gukesh told the media.

"The loss kind of provided me with the energy and motivation. After the loss I really felt that if I continue doing the right thing, and I am in the right mental state then I can really go for the wins," he added.

On expressing his aftermatch feeling and becoming the youngest challenger for World Championship title, Gukesh said "It was a beautiful moment, I was so happy and relieved to have officially made it. I was just super happy."