Gukesh beats Abdusattorov, wins ‘Armageddon Series: Asia & Oceania’

Gukesh and Abdusattorov qualify to Grand Finale

Press release by World Chess

16-year-old Gukesh D, the second-youngest Grandmaster in history, won the Asia & Oceania event in the Armageddon Championship Series 2023, organized by World Chess. With this dramatic win, he secured a place in the Grand Finale in September, along with the tournament’s runner-up, Nodirbek Abdusattorov.

A few minutes after the tournament, chess legend Vishy Anand said:

Congratulations, Gukesh D. An excellent achievement, especially in a different time control. 

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The Armageddon Championship Series is a unique and exciting chess tournament featuring six Armageddon games, rule-breaking moves, nail-biting drama, and sky-high heart rates. Top players like Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Parham Maghsoodloo, Yangyi Yu, Daniil Dubov, Karthikeyan Murali, Vladimir Kramnik and Vidit Gujrathi have made this competition an exciting journey for chess enthusiasts worldwide.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Vladimir Kramnik to gain the right to face Gukesh and secure a spot in the series’ Grand Finale

The Armageddon Championship Series has become one of the most attractive and widely televised chess events of the year, with live broadcasts on over 17 online and TV platforms. The highlights of the tournament will be showcased around the world on platforms like CNBC, BeIN Sports, and FOX Australia. Technological innovations like real-time heart rate monitoring have generated much buzz in the world of chess over the past week.

World Chess has taken a unique approach in presenting the Armageddon Championship Series, with a visually captivating bespoke studio set that places players at the very heart of the game. This departure from traditional presentations showcases chess as dynamic, modern, and exhilaratingly dramatic. Chess has been leading the way in cutting-edge aesthetics for over a century, and the Armageddon Championship Series has the potential to redefine the next generation of visuals.

The next stage of the tournament, featuring eight women players — Alexandra Kosteniuk, Humpy Koneru, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, Nana Dzagnidze, Gunay Mammadzada, Alina Kashlinskaya and Elisabeth Paehtz — will take place from May 8 to May 14, following the same dramatic format and immense time pressure as the previous events. 

Two of the strongest young players in the world — Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Dommaraju Gukesh

Interesting facts about the highest heart rates:

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• Yangyi Yu on April 5 recorded a heart rate of 163  bpm.
• Daniil Dubov on April 4 recorded a heart rate of 180 bpm.
• Vidit Gijrathi on April 5 recorded a heart rate of 164 bpm.
• Karthikeyan Murali on April 4 recorded a heart rate of 157 bpm.
• Parham Maghsoodloo on April 4 recorded a heart rate of 176 bpm.
• Nodirbek Abdusattorov on April 9 recorded a heart rate of 142 bpm.
• Gukesh D on April 6 recorded a heart rate of 137 bpm.
• Vladimir Kramink  on April 4 recorded a heart rate of 159 bpm.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov after being interviewed by Fiona Steil-Antoni

Chess fans can catch all the action and highlights on World Chess’s official YouTube channel.

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