It's 23.15 at night here in Canada and I am sitting alone in the press room. I am overwhelmed with emotions. Overwhelmed with what life is bringing my way. As my video of Gukesh's vlog renders, as Amruta struggles to go back to sleep at 8.45 a.m. in the morning in India, as my team members try to edit game videos at rapid pace, I cannot keep my emotions to myself. And so I begin scribbling here! Be with me my friends and feel what I felt today! I felt tremendous love and care from the 100+ people who turned up at the first ever meetup of ChessBase India at a park here in Toronto. I felt goosebumps as half of these individuals actually walked with me to the tournament hall and then chanted the names of players as they entered. I saw a 17-year-old boy deliver under pressure. When I see Gukesh play chess, I see someone completely focused on the task at hand. Away from the world of noise, the world of expectation and the world of achievements. He plays chess, because chess is what he knows. It's the best way he can express himself. As Alireza resigns the game and Gukesh takes sole lead in the tournament, the image of the first time I interviewed Gukesh runs through my mind. 30th of November 2017. 11-year-old Gukesh beats his opponent and becomes the under-11 national champion of India. In my interview with him he tells me "I want to become the youngest World Champion ever in the history of chess!" Almost every little talent I interview, tells me something like this. But Gukesh was and is special. I bring back my attention to Gukesh. 8.5/13 at the FIDE Candidates 2024. Half a point ahead of some legends like Nakamura, Nepo and Caruana! Didn't Magnus Carlsen also have the same score in 2013? Wasn't it the start of a new era when he won the London Candidates? Wow, are we on the cusp of another era beginning in chess? I try to control my emotions. Tomorrow is a big day. Hikaru will come with all the ammunition he has got in the house to unload it on Gukesh. The American GM will also have the white pieces. Caruana will also try and squeeze the life out of Nepo. Technically 4 people have chances to win the title. If Gukesh wins, there are no questions. He is the champion. But if Gukesh draws, and Fabi or Nepo win, then we have tiebreaks on the 22nd of April 2024. The funny thing is that because Gukesh won, now there cannot be more than 2 people in the tiebreaks, no matter what the scenario. Will Guki really become the Challenger to the World Title? If that happens wouldn't he have an upper hand over Ding Liren in the match? If the match does happen in November 2024 and Gukesh wins it, wouldn't he become a World Champion at 18.5 years? Will the match happen in Chennai? Will we get to witness the magic unfold in front of our eyes. Stop dreaming Sagar! As I end this write up and zip up my jacket to walk down to my apartment in 5 degree celsius cold, I have a smile on my face! The dream could become real. I cannot contain my excitement! How will I sleep tonight? Maybe I need to learn a thing or two about discipline. Sure! Gukesh is my inspiration here as well! :) Photos: Maria Emelianova