The Only Way to Describe It Is That I'm Living My Dream: Gukesh

Singapore, Dec 12 (NationPress) India's D. Gukesh, who on Thursday became the youngest World Chess Champion in Singapore, reflected on his realization of Ding Liren's mistake during the closing moments of Game 14 as the best moment of my life.

“Since I began playing chess at the age of six or seven, I have been aspiring for this moment for over 10 years. Every chess player dreams of experiencing this moment, but very few get that opportunity. To be one of them, the only way to express it is that I am living my dream,” said an emotional Gukesh following his historic victory.

Gukesh has become the youngest-ever World Chess Champion and only the second Indian to achieve this esteemed title, following in the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand.

The championship match against the reigning champion Ding Liren of China was an intense 14-game series. With the score tied at 6.5-6.5, the final game tested both nerves and skill. In a dramatic twist, Gukesh took advantage of a late blunder by Ding, who played Rf2, inadvertently trapping his bishop.

Reflecting on this critical moment, Gukesh remarked, “Actually, when he played Rf2, I didn’t realize it at first; I was almost going to play Rb3 but then I saw that his bishop was getting trapped. After Ke1, I have Ke5 and the pawn ending which is winning. When I realized, it was probably the best moment of my life.”

Gukesh’s success was accompanied by deep respect for his opponent. Speaking of Ding, he said, “We all recognize who Ding is, and he has been one of the best players in history for several years. Witnessing him struggle with the immense pressure during this match and the fierce competition he displayed reflects what a true champion he is. For me, he is a real World Champion.”

Ding himself acknowledged his loss gracefully, stating, “I believe I played my best tournament of the year. It could have been better, but considering yesterday’s lucky survival, it’s a fair outcome to lose in the end. I have no regrets.” He also clarified that retirement was not on his agenda, vowing to continue competing at the highest level.

For Gukesh, this victory marked the culmination of over a decade of hard work and a dream that began in his childhood. “Since I started playing chess at the age of six or seven, I have been dreaming of this moment for more than 10 years. Every chess player wants to live this moment, and very few get the chance. To be one of them, the only way to explain it is that I am living my dream,” he stated.

This triumph was especially significant for Gukesh as he brought the world championship title back to India after 11 years.

He reminisced about witnessing Anand’s defeat against Magnus Carlsen in Chennai in 2013, saying, “When I was watching the match in 2013, I was in the stands looking inside the glass box and thought it would be amazing to be in there one day. When Magnus won, I told myself I wanted to be the one to bring the title back to India.”

After the game, Gukesh’s emotions overflowed as he processed his monumental achievement.

“I probably got so emotional because I truly did not expect to win that position. I was prepared to press for as long as possible, thinking it would end in a draw, and let’s focus on the tiebreaks. But suddenly, I saw Rf2, and I realized it was actually done. I had been preparing for that huge tiebreak fight, and then it was all over—I had accomplished my dream.”

When asked about his first conversation with his mother after the victory, Gukesh shared, “We didn’t say much. We were both crying, but my first word was probably congratulations.”