Gukesh Dommaraju, an 18-year-old chess prodigy from India, made history on Friday by defeating reigning champion Ding Liren of China, thus becoming the youngest chess world champion ever. This thrilling conclusion took place in Singapore during the final game of their 14-match series.
Gukesh, at just 18, surpassed the long-standing record held by Garry Kasparov, who became champion at the age of 22 in 1985. The match swung dramatically in Gukesh’s favor when Ding, under significant pressure, made a crucial blunder while holding what appeared to be a strong position. Ultimately, Gukesh clinched the title with a final score of 7.5 to 6.5.
Ding Liren, who previously triumphed over Ian Nepomniachtchi to claim the world title in 2023, had struggled with his form leading up to this match. He had not secured a victory in the classical format since January. However, he regained some momentum after a surprising win early in the match, leveling the score with a praised victory in round 12.
This championship match, consisting of 14 long-time classical games, featured an impressive prize pool of $2.5 million. Gukesh secured his place in this prestigious event by winning the Candidates tournament in April. Notably, Magnus Carlsen, the world number one and former champion, stepped back from his title in 2022, indicating a decline in his competitive drive.
This remarkable achievement by Gukesh not only illustrates his incredible talent at such a young age but also represents a promising new chapter for chess, with fresh talent emerging onto the global stage. The chess community is abuzz with excitement about the potential future impact Gukesh and other young players could have on the game.
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