India
India’s chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju made history on Thursday, becoming the youngest-ever world chess champion at just 18 years old. Gukesh defeated defending champion Ding Liren of China in a tense and dramatic 14th game of the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 held in Singapore. A critical blunder by Liren in the endgame sealed the match in Gukesh’s favour, making him the 18th world champion.
Gukesh’s triumph, achieved four years earlier than Garry Kasparov’s record in 1985, came after a 14-round classical match with a prize fund of $2.5 million. Gukesh edged out Liren with a score of 7.5–6.5, clinching victory with the black pieces in the decisive game.
Reflecting on his win, Gukesh said, “I probably got so emotional because I did not really expect to win that position.”
Ding Liren, who had previously defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi in 2023 to claim the title, struggled throughout the match. While he managed to tie the score in round 12 with a celebrated victory, his inconsistency proved costly in the finale.
Gukesh’s rise to the top began with a win at the Candidates Tournament in April, where he outperformed fellow Indians Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi. His success is a testament to India’s growing chess prowess, spurred by the efforts of former world champion Viswanathan Anand and the nation’s gold-medal victories at the 45th Chess Olympiad.
As Magnus Carlsen, who relinquished his title in 2022, remains the top-ranked player globally, Gukesh sees his win as an opportunity to further motivate himself. “Becoming the world champion doesn’t mean that I’m the best player in the world. Obviously, there’s Magnus,” Gukesh remarked.
With this historic feat, Gukesh has firmly placed himself in the annals of chess history, inspiring a new generation of players.
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