Dommaraju Gukesh beats Ding Liren to become youngest FIDE World Chess Champion

The 18-year-old, Gukesh, has also become the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win World Chess Championship.

At the age of just 18, India’s Gukesh Dommaraju scripted history, becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, as he defeated China’s Ding Liren in the 14th and final game. Heading into the final game on 6.5 points each, the final match also seemed to head towards a draw.

However, a late blunder by Ding Liren handed the Indian the victory. Gukesh becomes the first Indian World Chess Champion since Viswanathan Anand in 2012. It caps off a stunning year for the 18-year-old, who has also won the Candidates 2024 tournament and the Chess Olympiad gold. He also became the first teenager to become World Chess Champion.

Gukesh’s achievement is remarkable, especially given his young age. He has now become the youngest chess world champion in history, breaking Garry Kasparov’s long-standing record from 1985. Kasparov was 22 when he first claimed the title, but the Indian has surpassed that milestone.

After his victory was confirmed, the Chennai-born Grandmaster was overcome with emotion and teared up, sitting near the board where he had just secured a historic win.

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In the crucial final game, Gukesh, playing with the black pieces, seized on Ding Liren’s mistakes and delivered a brilliant performance, ultimately clinching the championship.

Ding Liren’s performance has been inconsistent since his victory over Ian Nepomniachtchi in 2023, when he claimed the world championship title. In fact, he hadn’t won a single classical game since January. Choosing to skip major tournaments, Ding focused on improving his game during this period.

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However, he showed signs of a comeback in the opening round of his match, securing an unexpected win. Despite Gukesh’s two victories and eight draws, Ding managed to level the score in the 12th round, bringing the match to a tense and closely contested finish. Dommaraju qualified for the World Championship after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year.

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