22,000 kilometres. That is the journey Gukesh had to undertake to reach Goa for the Chess World Cup. Why such a long distance? From winning double gold at the European Club Championships in Rhodes, Greece, he flew to St. Louis for the Clutch Championships, where he faced the formidable trio of Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Fabiano Caruana. Despite flashes of brilliance, he finished last and could not secure a single win against Carlsen. From New York to Goa, the total distance adds up to that staggering number.
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But why did Gukesh decide to come to Goa at all? He did not have to feature in the Chess World Cup. After all, he is the reigning World Champion. The top three finishers in the World Cup will qualify for the Candidates, and the winner there will challenge
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