In a historic victory, Gukesh Dommaraju from India has become the youngest chess world champion by defeating defending champion Ding Liren of the Chinese mainland. The thrilling conclusion came during the last game of a 14-game match held in Singapore on Thursday.
At just 18 years old, Gukesh smashed the previous record held by Garry Kasparov, who became the youngest world champion in 1985 at 22. The final score stood at 7.5-6.5, with Gukesh securing the title after Ding faltered under pressure.
Gukesh clinched the championship by winning Thursday's game with the black pieces, capitalizing on Ding's unexpected blunder in what commentators deemed a comfortably winnable position. This victory marks a significant milestone in Gukesh's rapidly rising chess career.
Ding Liren's form has been inconsistent since his 2023 triumph over Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, as he struggled to secure wins in classical formats. Despite this, Ding regained his confidence with a surprise win in the opening round, briefly evening the score in round 12. However, Gukesh's perseverance and strategic prowess ultimately led him to victory.
The match featured a prize fund of $2.5 million and showcased intense competition over two weeks in Singapore. Gukesh earned his spot by winning the Candidates tournament in April, an eight-player double round-robin featuring fellow Indians Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi.
India's dominance in chess was further highlighted by their gold medals in both the open and women's sections of the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest last September. Many experts credit former world champion Viswanathan Anand for his role in promoting chess across the country, fostering a new generation of talented players.
Meanwhile, former world number one Magnus Carlsen stepped down from his title in 2022, citing a lack of motivation to continue. This paved the way for a new era in chess, with young prodigies like Gukesh leading the charge.
