New Delhi: Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh on Thursday scripted history by becoming the youngest world chess champion after beating reigning champion Ding Liren of China in the 14th and final game of an exhilarating contest in Singapore.
By winning the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024, Gukesh became the youngest world champion at the age of 18.
Heading into the final game on the back of a draw in the penultimate round and scores level at 6.5, Gukesh registered a sensational victory in the final round to end with a score of 7.5 against 6.5 of Liren – the three-time world champion.
CONGRATULATIONS TO GUKESH, THE NEW WORLD CHAMPION 🏆
The 18-year-old Indian star has defeated the reigning champion, Ding Liren, to become the youngest-ever undisputed classical chess world champion. Wow! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/j0BaraUK4j
— Chess.com (@chesscom) December 12, 2024
Gukesh won the last classical time control game in thrilling fashion to become only the second Indian after legendary Viswanathan Anand to win the title. Gukesh’s victory came in a round that seemed headed for a draw for the most part.
Following the historic win, Gukesh couldn’t hold back his emotion and broke down in tears.
The emotional moment that 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju became the 18th world chess champion 🥲🏆 pic.twitter.com/jRIZrYeyCF
— Chess.com (@chesscom) December 12, 2024
Gukesh breaks Garry Kasparov’s 39-year-old record
Gukesh broke a 39-year-old record held by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, widely regarded as the best chess player of all time. Before the Indian Grandmaster, Kasparov was the youngest winner in the world chess championship when he claimed the title aged 22, defeating Anatoly Karpov in 1985.
Gukesh entered the world title clash as the youngest-ever challenger to the global crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year.
Gukesh’s victory ended India’s world chess title drought of 11 years. Anand, a five-time world champion, had last won the title in 2013.
Gukesh and Ding played out nine draws in the match with 10 of them coming in the first 10 games of the 14-match contest.
Liren, a much more experienced player than Gukesh, headed into the final round as a hot favourite to defend his title but the Chinese grandmaster made a blunder when the game was headed towards a draw.
D Gukesh beat Ding Liren and broke a 39-year-old world record of Garry Kasparov to become the youngest world chess champion aged 18. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
