Top six youngest winners in FIDE World Chess Championship history

India’s D Gukesh became the youngest-ever winner of the FIDE World Chess Championship after winning the 2024 edition.

The title of World Chess Champion is one of the most prestigious in the sporting world, and while many champions have risen through years of hard-fought battles, a select few have made their mark at an incredibly young age. From Magnus Carlsen, who stunned the world by claiming the crown at just 22, to Mikhail Tal, whose daring and bold style at 23 made him a chess legend, these players proved that age is no barrier to greatness.

Let’s take a look at the six youngest players ever to win the FIDE World Chess Championship.

List of six youngest champions in FIDE World Chess Championship

6. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) – Age 25 years, 8 months, and 4 days

Vladimir Kramnik became World Champion in 2000, at the age of 25 years, 8 months, and 4 days, when he famously defeated Garry Kasparov in a historic match. Kramnik’s victory is particularly notable because he achieved it without losing a single game in the match, using an extremely solid and defensive approach. His triumph marked the end of Kasparov’s dominance in the chess world.

5. Anatoly Karpov (Russia) – Age 23 years, 10 months, and 8 days

Anatoly Karpov became World Champion in 1975, at the age of 23 years, 10 months, and 8 days, after Bobby Fischer refused to defend his title under FIDE’s conditions. Karpov’s precise and methodical style made him a formidable force, and he held the World Chess Championship title for much of the 1970s and 1980s.

His rivalry with Viktor Korchnoi and his numerous title defenses helped define the chess landscape of the era.

Also Read: FIDE World Chess Championship: Full list of winners

4. Mikhail Tal (Latvia, then Soviet Union) – Age 23 years, 1 month, and 2 days

Mikhail Tal became the 8th World Chess Champion in 1960, at the age of 23 years, 1 month, and 2 days, making him the youngest World Champion at the time. Tal’s unorthodox, attacking style, full of sacrificial brilliance, earned him the nickname “The Magician from Riga.”

His victory over Mikhail Botvinnik was a key moment in chess history, and Tal’s dynamic play continues to be admired by chess enthusiasts today.

3. Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – Age 22 years, 357 days

Magnus Carlsen made history in 2013 by winning the FIDE World Chess Championship at the age of 22 years, 357 days. He defeated the reigning champion Viswanathan Anand in a dominant 5-3 victory in Chennai, India.

He became the youngest World Chess Champion of the 21st century in 2013. His victory marked the beginning of a new era in chess, and Carlsen went on to dominate the chess world for nearly a decade.

2. Garry Kasparov (Russia) – Age 22 years, 210 days

Garry Kasparov, often regarded as the greatest chess player in history, became World Chess Champion at the young age of 22 years, 210 days, when he defeated Anatoly Karpov in 1985.

This victory marked the beginning of an era of dominance for Kasparov in the world of chess, and his reign would last for over two decades, solidifying his place as one of the most influential figures in the sport’s history.

Also Read: Top five greatest Indian chess players of all-time

1. Dommaraju Gukesh (India) — Age 18 years, 6 months, and 14 days

India’s 18-year-old Gukesh became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, surpassing Garry Kasparov’s rcord, after beating China’s Ding Liren in the 14th and last game of the 2024 edition of the FIDE World Chess Championship. The Indian grandmaster beat Ding in the last classical game to secure the requisite 7.5 points against the Chinese GM’s 6.5.

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