Gukesh Dommaraju Becomes Youngest World Chess Champion in History
In a historic achievement for the global chess community, 18-year-old Indian prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju has made history by becoming the youngest-ever world chess champion. Dommaraju clinched the prestigious title on Thursday by defeating China’s defending champion Ding Liren in a decisive showdown at the FIDE World Chess Championship held in Singapore.
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This landmark victory broke a decades-old record set by Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov, who had claimed the world title at the age of 22 in 1985. Dommaraju, who hails from Chennai and became a grandmaster at just 12, entered the final as an underdog, ranked fifth globally and second in India.
The turning point of the match came in the 14th and final game, where Dommaraju, playing as Black, capitalized on a critical miscalculation by Ding on his 55th move. This error allowed the young Indian prodigy to gain a game-winning advantage. The final score of the 14-game series ended with Dommaraju securing a 7.5-6.5 victory.
Throughout the championship, Dommaraju showcased incredible mental resilience, maintaining composure as Ding, who had been struggling with mental health challenges and a break from the game earlier in the year, faltered in the later stages of the match. Ding’s blunder in the final game was pivotal, and he resigned just three moves later, acknowledging the irreversible mistake.
With this victory, Gukesh Dommaraju becomes only the second Indian to win the world chess title, following in the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand, a five-time champion, and further solidifying India’s prominence in the world of chess.
