Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju made history on Thursday by defeating defending champion Ding Liren of China to claim the world chess title in Singapore. At just 18 years old, Gukesh became the youngest-ever world champion, surpassing Garry Kasparov, who held the record since 1985 after beating Anatoly Karpov at age 22.
In the decisive 14th game of the match, Gukesh clinched victory with the black pieces, capitalizing on a critical mistake by Ding under pressure. The final score stood at 7.5-6.5 in favor of the young Indian, who earned his spot in the championship by winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year.
Ding, the reigning champion since 2023, had shown glimpses of brilliance during the match but struggled with consistency. Despite starting strong with a surprise win in the opening round and leveling the match in round 12, Ding’s form ultimately faltered.
The championship, a 14-game classical format with a prize fund of $2.5 million, marks a turning point in chess history as Gukesh ascends to the pinnacle of the game.
Magnus Carlsen, who held the world champion title from 2013 to 2022, opted not to defend it, citing a lack of motivation.
