Gukesh Dommaraju, an 18-year-old chess grandmaster from India, has made history by becoming the youngest-ever undisputed classical chess world champion.
In a thrilling match held in Singapore on Thursday, December 12, Gukesh triumphed over defending champion Ding Liren, winning the best-of-14 final with a 7.5-6.5 score.
The dramatic final game saw the two players tied heading into the last match. As the tension mounted, Gukesh capitalized on a critical mistake made by Ding and secured the winning point, avoiding the need for rapid chess tiebreaks.
The moment Gukesh’s victory was confirmed, he broke down in tears while Ding sat in disbelief.
With the title, Gukesh earned a $2.5 million cash prize, marking a monumental achievement in his career. Following his victory, Gukesh celebrated with his father, and social media clips showed fans in India celebrating wildly, embracing and cheering for the young champion.
In a press conference after his win, Gukesh shared his emotional journey, explaining that his dream of becoming world champion started when he began playing chess at six years old.
Reflecting on his achievement, he said, “It was probably the best moment of my life.” At 18, he is four years younger than Garry Kasparov, who won his first world title at the age of 22 in 1985.
This victory adds to India’s growing reputation as a chess powerhouse, following in the footsteps of former world champion Viswanathan Anand.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Gukesh, praising his talent and determination, while President Draupadi Murmu hailed the victory as a testament to India’s strength in chess.
India’s chess scene continues to flourish, with rising stars like Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who became the youngest international chess master at age 10, contributing to the country’s chess dominance.
