Singapore: In a thrilling finale, 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju triumphed over defending champion Ding Liren with a 7.5-6.5 victory, making him the youngest undisputed classical chess world champion. Their best-of-14 final ended in dramatic fashion, with Ding making a crucial blunder in the last game, allowing Gukesh to claim the title.
A Life-Changing Victory for the Teen Chess Prodigy
As Gukesh’s victory was confirmed, he broke down in tears, overwhelmed by emotion, while Ding sat stunned. The young champion celebrated with his arms raised before sharing an emotional embrace with his father. Social media in India erupted with joy as fans celebrated the country’s second-ever world chess champion, following Viswanathan Anand.
Gukesh Dommaraju Reflects on His Journey to the Chess Crown
In his post-match interview, Gukesh admitted he hadn’t initially recognized Ding’s mistake, but when he did, he called it “probably the best moment of my life.” At 18, Gukesh became the youngest chess world champion, four years younger than Garry Kasparov when he won his first title in 1985.
“My journey has been incredible, from starting chess at six and a half years old to living my dream today,” Gukesh said. He credited his success to God and the miracles that led him to this moment, including his qualification through the Candidates tournament.
