The 18-year-old grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju created history as he defeated China’s Ding Liren to win the World Chess Championship 2024, becoming the youngest-ever world champion. Not only is Gukesh a world champion, but he is also the first teenager to achieve such a feat. A product of Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand, he becomes the second Indian to secure the crown, the first since 2012.
The 14th and final match of the championship seemed to be heading for a draw when a critical blunder by Ding Liren, who sacrificed his rook, finally gave Gukesh the victory.
After the match, an elated Gukesh said a decade-long dream had finally come true. “I have been dreaming of this moment for the last 10 years. I am happy to have realized this dream,” he told reporters following his historic win in Singapore. “I got a bit emotional because I wasn’t expecting to win. But then I saw a chance to press on.”
Gukesh also admitted the importance of this triumph: “Every chess player wants to live this dream. I am living my dream.” He was full of praise for his opponent: “To me, Ding is a real world champion. He fought like a true champion, and I’m sorry for him and his team. I would like to thank my opponent.”
He also credited his parents for their support, saying, “The dream of winning the world chess championship is bigger for them than for me.”
With this victory, Gukesh became the 18th World Champion in chess history and the youngest to do so, beating Garry Kasparov’s record, who had won the title at 21 years of age. This victory marks the arrival of a new star in the chess firmament.
Gukesh’s triumph has come a decade after Viswanathan Anand lost the title to Magnus Carlsen in 2013. Carlsen abdicated the crown in 2023, paving the way for Ding to face Ian Nepomniachtchi.
After three weeks of tough fighting, Ding expected rapid and blitz tiebreakers as Gukesh was playing aggressively throughout the event. But one critical mistake gave Gukesh the winning advantage, trapping Ding’s rook and ending the game with a victory in the endgame. Young champion almost jumped from his chair and took some time to compose himself before coming in front with the title to a thunderous applause of the crowd.
