Eighteen-year-old Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju has etched his name in history, becoming the youngest-ever undisputed classical chess world champion, CNN reports.
He secured the title Thursday after a thrilling 7.5-6.5 victory over defending champion Ding Liren in a best-of-14 final held in Singapore.
Entering the final game tied, the match appeared poised for a rapid chess tiebreak. However, a crucial blunder by Ding allowed Gukesh to seize the decisive point. The young champion’s emotional response – tears of joy – contrasted sharply with Ding’s disbelief. After a celebratory arm-raising, Gukesh was met by a heartfelt embrace with his father outside the venue.
Social media erupted with celebrations across India, showcasing the nation’s jubilant reaction to Gukesh’s achievement. He is only the second Indian to achieve this feat, following the legendary Viswanathan Anand, and becomes the 18th world chess champion.
Gukesh himself later admitted he hadn’t initially recognized Ding’s mistake. His victory underscores his remarkable journey, beginning at the age of six-and-a-half, a journey he described as a more than 10-year-long dream.
At 18, Gukesh is four years younger than Garry Kasparov was when he won his first world title in 1985. This win further solidifies India’s position as a chess powerhouse, with a burgeoning generation of exceptionally talented young players.
Among these rising stars is Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (“Pragg”), who captivated the chess world by defeating Magnus Carlsen in 2022. Pragg achieved the title of youngest international chess master at 10 and the second-youngest grandmaster at 12. Furthermore, Pragg and his sister, Rameshbabu Vaishali, made history last year as the first brother-sister duo to both achieve grandmaster titles.
Gukesh’s triumph has sparked a wave of national pride in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations via X (formerly Twitter), praising Gukesh’s “unparalleled talent, hard work and unwavering determination.”
