Singapore: D Gukesh, the 18-year-old chess prodigy from Chennai, has etched his name in history by becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, defeating China’s Ding Liren in a nail-biting 14-game match held in Singapore. Gukesh secured the championship with a 7.5 to 6.5 score, capitalizing on a critical blunder by Ding in the decisive final game.
With this victory, Gukesh becomes the 18th World Chess Champion in the sport’s century-long history and breaks Garry Kasparov’s record, who held the title at 21. Gukesh’s triumph marks the arrival of a new era in chess and makes him only the second Indian to achieve this milestone after five-time champion Viswanathan Anand. Anand last held the title in 2013 before losing to Magnus Carlsen in Chennai.
The closely contested match saw both players battling intensely over three weeks. Ding, known for his defensive prowess, had managed to neutralize Gukesh’s aggressive tactics in earlier games, steering the match toward what seemed to be an inevitable tiebreak. However, in a shocking turn of events, Ding blundered in the 14th game, leaving his rook vulnerable to a trap. Gukesh seized the opportunity, leveraging his extra pawn to secure a king-pawn endgame victory and the world title.
Visibly emotional, Gukesh celebrated his victory, stating, “I have been dreaming of this for the last 10-12 years since I started playing chess. The only way to explain this is that I am living my dream. This is a miracle, and I owe it all to God.” He also praised Ding for his resilience and effort, acknowledging the physical challenges his opponent faced during the match.