Every two years, I tune into one of the biggest chess tournaments in the world: the Candidates. Eight of the best players in the world are invited, with the winner playing the World Chess Championship (WCC) the following year against the current chess champion. The winner of the WCC is then crowned world chess champion for the following two years: the most prestigious title in chess.

Double round robin, 14 rounds of classical chess. The highest scorer after 14 rounds has the chance to become world champion. We are currently eight rounds into it, and there have been some spectacular games played.

But the reason I find this tournament so fascinating is because of the players. Here are eight of the best chess players in the planet, who have devoted their lives to mastering this game and are competing against each other for the highest award known to chess. Every game is tense, with standings fluctuating constantly and any loss devastating. After a certain amount of losses, it will be impossible to win the tournament. One’s chances of becoming world champion are shattered.

One particular heartbreaking game I witnessed yesterday was between India’s Gukesh Dommaraju and France’s Alireza Firouzja. Gukesh is in second place at round seven, just 0.5 points behind the leader (win = 1 point, draw = 0.5 points, loss = 0 points). He is controlling the game with the black pieces until move 30, when Alireza begins finding brilliant moves. The game becomes very complicated, the nerves increase, and Gukesh’s time is ticking down. This results in a small but fatal inaccuracy, and the Indian grandmaster walks into a checkmate right before move 40. As Gukesh realises his loss, he immediately buries his face in his hands in anguish. Commentators, players, and the chess community all unite in their sympathy for the young Indian prodigy. Gukesh is only 17 years old, but has the maturity of a much older man. His family is not rich, with him occasionally sleeping at airports during tournaments to save money. Chess means the world to him and has transformed his life. With this loss, a first place finish is slowly slipping away. Commentators begin to doubt if he is up for the challenge.

But today in round 8 a miracle happens. Gukesh plays another Indian grandmaster with the black pieces – and wins in a spectacular game. And now, despite his brutal loss the previous round, is tied for first place. His doubters are silenced. He is back in the running to play the WCC.

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In an interview, the current world chess champion Ding Liren was asked what the meaning of life was. His response:

“The meaning of life should be in those special, those sparkling moments, not in the daily life, those ordinary days, but in living for those unique moments.”

In the last few days, we have witnessed sparkling moments – both devastating and triumphant. I wonder if Gukesh would agree with Ding’s statement.