India’s Grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh Becomes Youngest World Chess Champion

Indian Grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh has made history by becoming the youngest world chess champion after defeating China’s Ding Liren in Game 14 of the World Chess Championship.

At just 18 years old, D. Gukesh secured the title by defeating Ding Liren in the 14th and final game of the championship. The match started with both players tied at 6.5-6.5 points, and while it seemed the final game might end in a draw, a crucial mistake by Ding Liren allowed Gukesh to claim victory.

Gukesh is the first Indian to win the World Chess Championship since Viswanathan Anand in 2012. He also claimed victory in the 2024 Candidates Tournament and won gold at the Chess Olympiad.

Gukesh is only the second Indian to achieve this remarkable feat. Before him, legendary chess player and Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand was the only Indian to make it to this prestigious list. Anand won the World Chess Championship title on five occasions.

At 18 years old, Dommaraju Gukesh is four years younger than the previous record holder. The previous record for the youngest world chess champion was set by Russian player Garry Kasparov, who won the title at the age of 22 in 1985 in Moscow.

During the World Title match, Gukesh lost the first game but managed to equalize in the third game and gained an advantage in the 11th game. Ding Liren made a comeback in the 12th game, leveling the match once again.

The 14th game was a high-stakes affair, with the world championship title and a prize of $2.5 million on the line. However, the young Dommaraju Gukesh kept his composure, played with resilience, and secured his victory.

Gukesh’s parents are doctors. His father, Rajinikanth, is a surgeon, while his mother, Padma, is a microbiologist. Both parents paused their careers to support their son’s chess journey.