Indian chess prodigy Dommaraju Gukesh has made history by becoming the youngest World Chess Champion at just 18 years old. He defeated China’s Ding Liren in an intense 14-game match held in Singapore. This victory crowns Gukesh as the second Indian to achieve this title, following in the footsteps of legendary player Viswanathan Anand. Gukesh’s triumph is especially notable as he surpassed Garry Kasparov’s record for youngest champion, set in 1985 when Kasparov was 22.
Gukesh entered the match as a favorite due to his exceptional form, including winning the 2024 Candidates Tournament and leading India to gold in the Chess Olympiad. Despite Ding’s resilience and past victories over Gukesh, the final game turned in the young Grandmaster’s favor after Ding made a costly error in an otherwise balanced position. The emotional win earned Gukesh a prize of $1.3 million, while Ding took home $1.2 million.
Gukesh expressed his joy at achieving his lifelong dream, which began when he started playing chess at the age of seven. His victory solidifies his position as one of the most talented players in chess history, with a meteoric rise to the top.
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