Gukesh Dommaraju made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest world chess champion after his stunning victory over Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship held in Singapore. The 18-year-old prodigy, often referred to simply as Gukesh, triumphed in a high-stakes showdown, securing a 7.5-6.5 win in the pivotal Game 14 of classical chess, which featured a prize pool of $2.5 million.
Demonstrating remarkable talent early in his career, Gukesh had already made waves by becoming the second youngest grandmaster in history at just 12 years old. He symbolizes a new wave of Indian chess talent, following in the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand, who broke Russia’s dominance in the sport with his championship win in 2007. Gukesh has often cited Anand as his inspiration and role model.
The decisive match unfolded after a nail-biting series of games that culminated in a tense tie going into the final classical match. In the previous Game 13, Gukesh left Ding in a precarious position, with Ding later admitting that he nearly conceded defeat, only to hold on and finish the game in a draw that brought their scores to 6.5 points each.
“It’s fitting that the match goes to the last game, because we’ve both showed a lot of fighting spirit and played some very entertaining chess,” Gukesh remarked during the post-match press conference. Analysts noted a critical mistake made by Ding in Game 14, which ultimately allowed Gukesh to claim the title.
Gukesh expressed his admiration for Ding, stating, “We all know who Ding is — he has been one of the best players in history for several years. For me, he is the real world champion.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Gukesh’s victory as “historic and exemplary,” highlighting that his achievement inspires millions of young people to dream big and strive for excellence.
This year’s championship had a unique backdrop, marked by the absence of Russian players, a rare circumstance given their longstanding dominance in chess. Additionally, the tournament was missing Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as the “greatest of all time.” Carlsen withdrew from competition after having dominated for years, citing a lack of motivation.
Despite the challenges, Gukesh’s victory heralds a new era for chess, building excitement for the future with emerging talents like him, indicating a bright outlook for the sport, especially as it continues to inspire next generations around the globe.