Gukesh: Indian chess star crowned youngest world champion!

Gukesh: Indian chess star crowned youngest world champion!

In an impressive contest, Indian chess champion D. Gukesh has clinched the title of World Chess Champion after defeating previous champion Ding Liren of China by 7.5 points to 6.5. This happened in the decisive 14th game in Singapore, with Gukesh benefiting from a fatal mistake by Liren, who was actually aiming for a draw. At just 18 years and 8 months, Gukesh is now the youngest world chess champion in history, surpassing Garry Kasparov's record Republic World reported. Gukesh, considered India's second world champion after Viswanathan Anand, who held the title from 2007 to 2013, will be rewarded with a share of the total prize money of $2.5 million for his historic victory.

Ding Liren, who became the first Chinese world champion last year, admitted after the final match that he only realized his fatal mistake too late. “It was only when I saw how happy he was at the board that I realized I had made a mistake,” Liren explained after the fateful 55th move. Gukesh, on the other hand, said of his triumph: "I dreamed of this moment. I am living my dream." His idol Anand, who mentored him throughout his career, expressed his pride and described Gukesh's achievement as "incredible". Gukesh's success is seen as a great moment for chess in India as the entire nation is proud of its new world champion, as is the Reports from Vol.at prove.

The path to this triumph seems clear: Gukesh qualified by winning the Candidates Tournament in April, where he beat famous opponents like Nepomnyashchi. While opinions are divided over the absence of Magnus Carlsen, who resigned the title in 2023, Gukesh makes an impression with his extraordinary performance that not only delights chess lovers. “This is a proud moment for chess, a proud moment for India,” praised Anand in a post.