Teen chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju from India has made history by becoming the youngest chess world champion after defeating reigning champion Ding Liren of China. This remarkable achievement unfolded on Friday morning (NZ time) in Singapore during the suspense-filled final game of their 14-match series.
At just 18 years old, Gukesh eclipses the previous record held by Garry Kasparov, who was 22 when he first claimed the championship title in 1985. Gukesh clinched victory playing with the black pieces, capitalizing on a critical blunder by Ding during a moment of high pressure, ultimately finishing the match with a score of 7.5 to 6.5.
Ding, who had been struggling since his victory over Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi to become champion in 2023, faced difficulties in long-time format games, having not secured a win in this format since January. Despite these setbacks, he displayed resilience, managing to recover his confidence after an opening round surprise win. The match saw Gukesh win twice, while they shared eight draws before Ding leveled the score with a noteworthy victory in the 12th round.
Comprising 14 rounds of classical matchplay, the event featured a substantial prize fund of $2.5 million. Gukesh earned his shot at the title by triumphing in the Candidates Tournament earlier in April.
This victory marks a significant turning point in Gukesh’s career and adds a fresh narrative to the world of chess, especially after Magnus Carlsen, who was the world champion from 2013 until 2022, stepped down from the title citing a lack of motivation.
This new chapter in chess history is not only a testament to Gukesh’s talent but also an inspiring glimpse into the potential future of the sport, where young players continue to break barriers and set new milestones.
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