Indian teenager becomes youngest chess world champion

Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju shocked the chess world on Thursday by becoming the youngest World Chess Champion at just 18 years old. The Chennai-born talent defeated reigning champion Ding Liren of China in a dramatic match held in Singapore, solidifying his place in chess history.

Gukesh’s victory marks the pinnacle of his young but already illustrious career. He became a grandmaster at the age of 12 years and seven months and has harbored dreams of becoming world champion since he was seven. He felt inspired when he witnessed a World Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen in 2013. However, even Gukesh admitted at the post-match press conference that he did not expect his dream to materialize so soon.

The final game of the 14-match series was an intense and gripping contest that captivated chess enthusiasts worldwide. With the series tied at two wins each after 13 games, the 14th game seemed destined for a draw, which would have led to tiebreak rounds with progressively shorter time controls. However, Ding Liren, under immense pressure, made a decisive mistake on move 55. Gukesh capitalized on the error with remarkable precision, securing the championship title and the $2.5 million prize fund. This historic victory crowned him the 18th world champion since the title’s inception in 1886, while also making him the youngest ever to hold the title, breaking Garry Kasparov’s record of winning at age 22 in 1985.

Gukesh’s journey to the top has been extraordinary. Over the past three years, he has amassed numerous accolades, including individual gold medals for best performance at the last two Chess Olympiads. He also led India to a team bronze in Chennai in 2022 and a gold medal in Budapest in 2024. Earlier this year, he secured his spot in the World Championship by winning the prestigious Candidates Tournament.

Initially, Gukesh’s mentor, five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, believed the young talent lacked the experience to challenge for the title. However, Gukesh proved his resilience by bouncing back from setbacks, including a significant loss during the Candidates Tournament, which he overcame to ultimately win the event. In the World Championship match, Gukesh showed incredible composure, recovering from a loss in Game 1 to equalize in Game 3, take the lead in Game 11, and finally secure the title in Game 14.

Gukesh’s success is not a solitary story but a testament to India’s robust chess ecosystem. The country boasts over 85 grandmasters, many of them still in their teens, and a massive base of 30,000 rated players. Gukesh’s rise has been supported by his parents, both doctors who paused their careers to nurture his talent, and his school, Velammal Vidyalaya, which allowed him the flexibility to focus on chess. Additionally, Gukesh is mentored by Anand and sponsored by Westbridge Capital, which funds the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy.

Outside of chess, Gukesh enjoys meditation, swimming, and tennis. His goals remain ambitious: he aims to surpass Magnus Carlsen as the world’s top-ranked player and have a long, successful career at the highest level. For Gukesh, winning the World Championship is just the beginning of a lifelong journey to redefine excellence in chess.