In brief
Gukesh Dommaraju, an 18-year-old from India, triumphs over China's Ding Liren to become the youngest chess champion ever, solidifying his place in history with remarkable achievements and dreams for the future.
Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest world chess champion at just 18 years old. Born in Chennai, Gukesh stunned the chess community by defeating reigning champion, Ding Liren of China, in a thrilling match held in Singapore. With a prize fund of $2.5 million, this victory marks the pinnacle of Gukesh's impressive journey in the world of chess.Since his grandmaster title at age 12, Gukesh had dreamed of becoming world champion, a goal sparked when he attended a title match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen at just seven years old. However, during the intense final match, he faced moments of nerves that nearly cost him victory. “I was getting close but could not finish,” he said post-match, reflecting on the pressure.With this win, Gukesh becomes the 18th world champion, surpassing Garry Kasparov's record of winning at age 22. The 14-game match saw an exciting finish when Ding blundered on move 55, allowing Gukesh to claim the title. His rise to the top has been backed by a robust chess ecosystem in India, with over 85 grandmasters, and influential mentors including Anand himself.Gukesh's parents, both doctors, made sacrifices to support his chess journey, including crowd-funding travel expenses for overseas competitions. Although chess is demanding, he also enjoys swimming, meditation, and tennis. With clear goals, Gukesh aims to be the world's best player, looking up to Magnus Carlsen, viewing this recent title as just one step on his path.
