In a historic moment for Indian Chess, 18-year-old Grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh has become the youngest World Chess Champion after defeating China’s Ding Liren in the 14th and final game of the 2024 World Chess Championship.
The match was a thrilling display of skill, with Gukesh securing the crucial 7.5 points to Liren’s 6.5. The game, which seemed to be heading towards a draw, took a decisive turn as Gukesh won the last classical time-control game, clinching the victory in the final stretch.
With this win, Gukesh joins the ranks of Indian chess legends, becoming only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to claim the prestigious World Chess title. Anand, a five-time World Champion, last held the crown in 2012, marking this victory as a significant milestone for Indian chess.
Gukesh’s triumph not only places him in the spotlight but also ushers in a new era for the entire chess community and India. The future of chess looks incredibly bright with such rising stars!
Gukesh Dommaraju, born on May 29, 2006, is an Indian chess grandmaster and the 18th World Chess Champion. He holds the title of the youngest World Chess Champion in history and is also the third-youngest grandmaster ever. Gukesh is the youngest player to reach a rating of 2750 and has achieved a peak rating of 2794, making him the 18th-highest rated player in history. He is also the youngest player to win the Candidates Tournament and the World Chess Championship, having defeated Ding Liren of China in 2024 with a score of 7½ to 6½ in a 14-game match.
In addition to his World Championship victory, Gukesh has earned one team and two individual gold medals at the Chess Olympiad, as well as a bronze team medal. He is also a silver medalist at the Asian Games. At the junior level, Gukesh has won multiple gold medals at the World Youth Championship and the Asian Youth Championship.
