D Gukesh Makes History as the Youngest World Chess Champion, Following Anand
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Singapore, Dec 12 (NationPress) India's D Gukesh has etched his name in history on Thursday by clinching the title of the youngest-ever World Champion in chess, triumphing over Ding Liren from China in an intense 14-game match conducted in Singapore. The 18-year-old from Chennai took advantage of a critical blunder made by Ding in the decisive 14th game, ultimately winning the match with a score of 7.5 to 6.5 and marking himself as only the second Indian to become the World Chess Champion.
By defeating Ding, Gukesh becomes the 18th World Champion in the extensive history of chess spanning over a century. He has also set a record as the youngest champion, surpassing Garry Kasparov's previous record of winning the title at the age of 21, heralding the rise of a new chess prodigy.
Gukesh follows in the footsteps of five-time champion Viswanathan Anand, who lost his title to Magnus Carlsen of Norway in 2013 in Chennai. Carlsen vacated the crown in 2023, allowing Ding to secure a victory over Ian Nepomniachtchi.
After a grueling 13-game battle over three weeks, Ding anticipated the rapid and blitz tiebreakers which had previously enabled him to effectively counter the young Indian's aggressive strategies. However, the 32-year-old Chinese player made a shocking mistake by moving his rook, which led to it being trapped and ultimately losing the game, as Gukesh enjoyed an extra pawn in the endgame.
Gukesh nearly jumped from his seat, took a moment to collect himself, sealed the victory by capturing the rook, and captivated the audience.
"I have been dreaming of this for the last 10-12 years since I started playing chess. The only way to describe this moment is that I am living my dream. First and foremost, I am grateful to God for making this miracle possible," said Gukesh, who commended Ding Liren for his competitive spirit throughout the match despite not being in optimal physical condition.
