After defeating defending champion Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship final in Singapore on Thursday, Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest world chess champion.
The 18-year-old prodigy won the $2.5 million match, winning Game 14 of classical chess with a thrilling score of 7.5-6.5.\
Following Anand’s 2007 title victory, which ended Russia’s hold on the game, Gukesh, who at the age of 12 became the second-youngest grandmaster in history, is a symbol of a new generation of Indian genius. Gukesh has referred to Anand as a role model and inspiration.
After a fierce battle that left the two players level heading into the game’s final classical match, Thursday’s encounter proved to be pivotal.
On Wednesday, in Game 13, the teenager left Ding speechless. Ding acknowledged at the news conference after the game that he nearly gave up, but he persevered and the game finished in a draw that tied the two players at 6.5 points.
At a press conference following the match, Gukesh stated, “It’s appropriate that the match goes to the final game because we’ve both shown a lot of fighting spirit and played some very entertaining chess.”
However, experts claimed that Ding committed a critical error in the decisive Game 14 that gave the teenager the victory.
Gukesh reportedly told reporters, “I probably got so emotional because I did not really expect to win that position,” according to the Reuters news agency.
Ding has been one of the greatest players in history for a number of years, and we all know who he is. Gukesh declared, “He is the true World Champion in my opinion.”
The victory was hailed as historic and exemplary by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi!
In a post on X, Modi claimed that in addition to leaving his mark on chess history, Gukesh has motivated millions of young people to aim high and strive for greatness.
This year was different, even though the tournament is unquestionably the game’s main event.
In addition to the absence of the Russians, who have dominated the sport for decades, one of the most well-known players in the sport, Magnus Carlsen of Norway, was also not present at the final.
The 34-year-old Carlsen earned the title of “greatest of all time,” or “GOAT,” after dominating the sport since he was a teenager. However, he relinquished his title in 2022, claiming a lack of drive. His 2021 defense against Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia was his final significant performance, drawing record-breaking online viewership.
Singapore lamented the loss of Carlsen, who is still among the most marketable chess players, but the conclusion was also clouded by Ding’s recent difficulties.
Last year, the Chinese move-calculating machine defeated Nepomniachtchi to win the title. His triumph confirmed China’s position as a chess giant and was a source of pride for the country.
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