12 Dec: Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh achieved a historic milestone on Thursday, becoming the youngest world chess champion at the age of 18. Gukesh defeated defending champion Ding Liren of China in the 14th and final game of a closely contested showdown in Singapore, securing the coveted title.
Gukesh’s triumph shattered the previous record held by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, who became the youngest world chess champion at 22 in 1985 by dethroning Anatoly Karpov.
Gukesh secured 7.5 points against Liren’s 6.5, clinching victory in the classical time control game. The final match, which appeared destined for a draw for most of its duration, took a decisive turn, allowing Gukesh to claim the championship and a significant share of the USD 2.5 million prize pool.
“This moment has been my dream for the past 10 years. To finally realize it is surreal,” the Chennai-born prodigy shared with reporters after his win. Overwhelmed by emotion, he admitted, “I wasn’t expecting to win, but when the opportunity came, I seized it.”
Known for his calm demeanor during matches, Gukesh broke into a rare smile and raised his arms in celebration after the triumph, contrasting with his usual stoic presence at the chessboard.
Gukesh is now the second Indian to win the world chess title, following in the footsteps of five-time champion Viswanathan Anand, who last held the title in 2013 before losing to Magnus Carlsen.
“Every chess player dreams of this moment. Today, I am living that dream,” Gukesh said.
The decisive 14th game lasted 58 moves over four hours. Gukesh had earlier secured victories in the third and 11th rounds, while Liren won the first and 12th games. The remaining games in the 14-game series ended in draws.
Had the final game also concluded in a draw, the champion would have been decided in tie-break matches on Friday.
Gukesh’s remarkable journey to the championship included winning the Candidates Tournament earlier this year, making him the youngest-ever challenger for the world title.
With this victory, Gukesh joins the elite list of world chess champions as the 18th titleholder, marking a new era in the chess world.
