Gukesh becomes youngest world chess champion, defeats Ding Liren in dramatic finale

Gukesh Dommaraju, at just 18 years old, made history by becoming the youngest-ever world chess champion on Thursday. He triumphed over China’s Ding Liren in a tense and dramatic final game of the FIDE World Chess Championship in Singapore.

Dommaraju’s victory came after Ding, who had been in a strong position, made a fatal blunder on his 55th move. This move allowed Dommaraju to seize the opportunity and claim the title, finishing with a score of 7.5 to 6.5. The 14-game series had been closely contested, with both players having won two games each and drawn eight.

This victory is particularly special as it eclipses the previous record set by Russian legend Garry Kasparov, who was 22 when he won the title in 1985. Dommaraju, from Chennai, has long been a rising star in the chess world, having become a grandmaster at just 12 years old.

The chess prodigy’s journey to the top has been a remarkable one. His family, with no prior chess background, enrolled him in chess sessions after school. His natural talent was quickly noticed, and his coaches encouraged his family to invest in his training. By 2019, Dommaraju was crowned grandmaster at the age of 12 years and 7 months, making him the third youngest in history.

Throughout the tournament, Dommaraju remained calm under pressure, while Ding, who had struggled with mental health issues earlier in the year, faltered in the final game. Ding’s blunder turned a potentially drawn match into a loss, and he resigned just three moves later. Dommaraju, visibly emotional, shared his disbelief, saying he had not expected to win the position.

This victory makes Dommaraju the second Indian chess world champion after Viswanathan Anand, who won his last title in 2012. The entire chess world, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrated Dommaraju’s achievement, praising his skill, hard work, and determination. The championship, with a prize fund of $2.5 million, marked a historic moment for both Indian and world chess.