Viswanathan Anand, one of the greatest chess players in history and a five-time World Chess Champion, has seen it all on the chessboard. Over the years, he has witnessed countless moments of brilliance, triumphs, and defeats, and has weathered the emotional highs and lows of the game. Yet, there are still moments that can catch even someone as seasoned as Anand by surprise.
Thursday was one such day. Anand was at home, not fully immersed in the action of Game 14 of the World Chess Championship between Gukesh and Ding Liren. Given the nature of the game, he didn’t expect any major shifts. With the match entering the endgame, Anand assumed it would most likely end in a draw, setting up tiebreaks for the following day. As he kept half an eye on the game, he didn’t anticipate that the course of chess history was about to change right in front of him.
Then, in a move that would alter the fate of the championship, Ding Liren made a critical rook move that shifted the balance in favor of Gukesh. In that instant, Gukesh found himself with the chance to become the 18th World Chess Champion—a monumental moment in the sport’s history. For Anand, it was a reminder of how unpredictably history can unfold.
"Sometimes history walks in when you are not expecting it to," Anand said, reflecting on that pivotal moment. "I was just sitting around, not watching the 14th World Championship game live in the endgame. I thought it would end in a draw, and we’d go to tiebreaks the next day. But then, with one move, everything changed."
Anand's words highlight the unpredictability of chess. In a game that is often defined by meticulous planning and calculated risks, a single moment can alter the trajectory of a match—and sometimes, even the future of a player's career. Gukesh’s rise to the possibility of becoming the World Champion was a testament to how swiftly fortune can shift in the world of chess, even when it seems like the outcome is all but decided.
For Anand, this was more than just a turning point in a game. It was a reminder of the beauty and unpredictability of chess—how even in the quietest moments, the game can surprise you, and history can be made in the blink of an eye.
