A look at Gukesh Dommaraju's journey to becoming youngest world chess champion

Besides being the youngest undisputed world champion, Gukesh is also youngest player to have surpassed a FIDE rating of 2750, doing so at the age of 17.

In a viral video that captured the world’s attention, a young Gukesh, with a spark in his eyes, revealed his dream to become the “world’s youngest chess champion.” At the time, he was just 11 years old, earned his IM title few months back, and virtually unknown to the global chess community. But to those who looked closely, it was clear: the ignition in his eyes was a glimpse of something extraordinary.

This spark, maybe not by the World, was most clearly seen by his parents, who recognized the potential in their son long before the world did.

That same year, in 2017, Gukesh’s father, Dr. Rajinikanth, an esteemed ENT surgeon, made the ultimate sacrifice, stepping away from his well-established career to fully support his son’s chess aspirations. Meanwhile, Gukesh’s mother, Dr. Padmavathi, a microbiologist, shouldered the financial burden of the family, ensuring that Gukesh could chase his dreams without constraints.

Also Read: Top five youngest Grandmasters in Chess history

His parents’ friends, recognizing his potential, became his initial sponsors. Gukesh’s father traveled with him to tournaments, offering invaluable support during his early years.

In a bold move to focus entirely on his passion, Gukesh dropped out of his regular school after fourth standard, choosing instead to immerse himself in the sport. It was a decision that many questioned, but for Gukesh, it was the only path that made sense to him.

In 2018, Gukesh’s victory at the World Youth Chess Championship thrust him into the global spotlight, signaling the arrival of a new prodigy in the chess world. His brilliance didn’t stop there—he went on to win multiple gold medals at the Asia Youth Chess Championship, cementing his reputation as one of the most promising young talents in the game.

In 2019, Gukesh reached another milestone: at just 12 years and 7 months, he earned the Grandmaster title, making him then the second youngest ever to earn the title (now third). He also became India’s youngest GM, a title he still holds today.

In August 2022, Gukesh achieved a monumental milestone, winning the individual gold medal on the first board in the open event at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, scoring a remarkable nine out of 11. His performance was a key factor in the India-2 team securing the bronze medal in the same tournament.

September 2022 marked another breakthrough when Gukesh crossed the 2700 Elo rating threshold for the first time, reaching a rating of 2726. This achievement made him the third-youngest player ever to do so, following GM Wei Yi and GM Alireza Firouzja.

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

During the Aimchess Rapid tournament in October 2022, Gukesh added yet another feather to his cap by becoming the youngest player ever to defeat the reigning World Chess Champion, GM Magnus Carlsen.

In August 2023, Gukesh broke another record, becoming the youngest player to reach a rating of 2750. The same month he helped the Indian team win the silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games in the men’s team competition.

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At the Chess World Cup 2023 in Baku, he advanced to the quarterfinals, where he faced Carlsen once again but was narrowly defeated. Yet, his performance throughout the tournament was nothing short of exceptional.

September 2023 saw Gukesh reach another historic milestone as he overtook GM Viswanathan Anand to become India’s top-ranked player. It was the first time in 37 years that Anand was not the highest-rated Indian player, a symbolic passing of the torch to the new generation of Indian chess talent.

In December 2023, Gukesh secured his place in the 2024 Candidates Tournament, the event that determines who will challenge GM Ding Liren for the World Chess Championship. He finished second in the FIDE Circuit behind GM Fabiano Caruana, earning the qualifying spot reserved for the winner, as Caruana had already qualified through the Chess World Cup.

At just 17 years old, Gukesh became the third-youngest player to qualify for the Candidates, following in the footsteps of chess legends GM Bobby Fischer and GM Magnus Carlsen.

In January 2024, Gukesh finished in a four-way tie for first place at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, scoring 8.5 out of 13 rounds. He beat GM Anish Giri in the semifinals but lost to Yi in the final tiebreaker.

Also Read: What is the difference between a Champion and Undisputed Champion in chess?

By April 2024, Gukesh entered the Candidates Tournament in Toronto, facing some of the best players in the world. He won five of his games against top-tier opponents like GM R Praggnanandhaa, GM Vidit Gujrathi, GM Alireza Firouzja, and GM Nijat Abasov.

With only one loss against Firouzja, Gukesh finished the tournament with a stunning nine points from 14 rounds, securing first place and becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Candidates Tournament.

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The momentum continued in September 2024 at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Representing India, Gukesh was unstoppable, remained undefeated throughout the tournament and clinched the individual gold medal with a perfect score of nine out of ten rounds.

His brilliant performance on board one was a crucial factor in India’s first-ever team gold medal at the Olympiad, a historic achievement for India. This victory also propelled Gukesh into the top five of the FIDE rankings for the first time on October 1, 2024, further cementing his place among the world’s elite.

In November-December 2024, Gukesh faced reigning champion GM Ding Liren in the highly anticipated World Chess Championship. Over 14 intense classical rounds, Gukesh outplayed Liren, scoring three wins to Liren’s two, with eight draws. The championship came to a dramatic conclusion on December 12, 2024, when Gukesh secured a decisive victory in the 14th match, clinching the title with a score of 7.5–6.5.

This historic win made Gukesh the youngest-ever undisputed World Chess Champion, a crowning achievement in his already extraordinary career.

Also Read: Top six youngest winners in FIDE World Chess Championship history

FIDE praised Gukesh’s gameplay, describing it as “near-perfect accuracy,” while GM Ding Liren himself acknowledged Gukesh’s brilliance, calling it the best tournament he had played all year and expressing no regrets in losing the title to such a worthy champion.

With this victory, Gukesh solidified his place in chess history, not only as a prodigy but as a player who had risen to the very top of the game, fulfilling the dream he had spoken of as a young boy. His ambition wasn’t just a fleeting childhood fantasy—it was a vision he was determined to make reality.

Here’s a fun twist: despite becoming the youngest World Chess Champion in 2024, he was still eligible for the World Junior Chess Championship this year. And not just this year—he could’ve played in the next two editions as well!

As he continues to rise, the world eagerly watches what this young champion will achieve next in his remarkable career.

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