D Gukesh to miss FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships in New York

Grandmaster D Gukesh, the recently crowned world champion, decided to give the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships in New York a miss.

Gukesh, who defeated Ding Liren of China in the World Championship match in Singapore in the 14th round, last week said he was no longer certain of competing at the event, starting December 26-31.

His name has now been removed from the Rapid & Blitz lists by the FIDE.

Gukesh won the decisive Game 14 in the World Championship - a classical format event - after Ding blundered in the end game on December 12. Gukesh, who fought Liren over 14 gruelling games, spent the weekend in Singapore, taking a tour around the city.

Gukesh became only the second Indian since Viswanathan Anand to win the World Championship. By beating Liren, the former champion, he also became the youngest world champion in the history of the tournament.

Anand won the World Championship crown in 2012.

The 18-year-old grandmaster returned home on Monday amid much fanfare in Chennai.

Gukesh will receive a whopping Rs 11.45 crore as prize money from the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for winning the tournament.

Though Gukesh gave the tournament a miss, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen will be hogging the limelight at the World Rapid & Blitz in New York. Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura are the other top international grandmasters who will take part in the event.

Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa will represent India at the event.