Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has made history by becoming the youngest-ever chess world champion. The 18-year-old from Chennai defeated China’s Ding Liren, the defending champion, in a thrilling final game on Thursday.
Gukesh broke a 39-year-old record held by Russian chess legend Garry Kasparov, who became world champion at 22 in 1985.
A Rising Star from Chennai
Chennai, known as India’s chess capital, is where Gukesh’s journey began. Unlike many chess stars, Gukesh didn’t come from a family of professional players. His father, a surgeon, and mother, a medical professor, enrolled him in after-school chess classes to keep him busy. Coaches quickly noticed his talent and urged his family to support his training.
At just 12 years and 7 months, Gukesh became a grandmaster in 2019, the third-youngest in history.
The Championship Battle
The FIDE World Chess Championship took place in Singapore and lasted 14 games over two weeks. Going into the final match, Gukesh and Ding were tied, each with two wins and eight draws. The pressure was high, as Gukesh needed one more win to claim the title.
In the final game, Gukesh played with black pieces and stayed calm even when Ding seemed to have a stronger position. However, on the 55th move, Ding made a big mistake, losing his rook. This allowed Gukesh to turn the game in his favor. Three moves later, Ding resigned, handing Gukesh the victory.
A Historic Win for India
Gukesh became only the second Indian to win the world chess championship, after Viswanathan Anand, who won five times, with his last title in 2012.
“It’s a proud moment for chess and for India,” said Gukesh, who became emotional after the win.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised him, calling his achievement “historic and exemplary” on social media.
The championship also came with a prize fund of $2.5 million, further cementing Gukesh’s place among the greats of chess.
Ding, who won the championship in 2023, struggled with mental health challenges throughout the year. Despite showing moments of brilliance during the tournament, he couldn’t hold his nerve in the final game.
With this win, Gukesh has inspired millions and brought pride to his country, marking the start of what could be a long and successful career in chess.
