Indian Prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju Crowned Youngest Chess World Champion

Gukesh's incredible journey culminated in a dramatic victory at the World Chess Championship, showcasing the remarkable support and talent from India's robust chess community.

In a groundbreaking achievement, Gukesh Dommaraju from Chennai has earned the title of the world's youngest chess champion at only 18 years old. The prodigious talent defeated reigning champion Ding Liren of China in a high-stakes matchup that captivated audiences in Singapore. This match has marked a significant milestone in Gukesh's burgeoning career, highlighted by his remarkable achievements since his chess journey began.

Having become a grandmaster at the tender age of 12 years and seven months, Gukesh has always expressed aspirations of becoming world champion since witnessing a World Title match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen at the age of seven. In a press conference after his dramatic win, Gukesh admitted that he did not expect to achieve this monumental feat so quickly.

In a historical context, Gukesh is now the 18th world champion following that of Wilhelm Steinitz, who won the inaugural title match in 1886. His accomplishment supersedes the previous record held by Garry Kasparov, who was 22 years old when he won the title.

The championship match was tightly contested, with both players managing to win two games each in the preceding rounds. The decisive moment came in the 14th game when Ding made a critical mistake that Gukesh capitalized on, securing the championship. Over the past three years, Gukesh has continued to build an impressive resume, clinching multiple accolades, including gold medals at the FIDE Chess Olympiad and leading India to triumphs in several international competitions.

Despite initial doubts from his mentor, Viswanathan Anand, regarding his readiness for such a challenge, Gukesh overcame setbacks to emerge victorious in the Candidates tournament, which qualified him to challenge Ding Liren. The 14-game match saw Gukesh exhibit remarkable composure throughout the pressure-filled games.

Gukesh's accomplishment is not merely a singular winning moment; it reflects the collaborative success of India's thriving chess ecosystem. His ascent to the summit of chess has been supported by a robust framework of grandmasters, who form a considerable segment of the nation’s 30,000 rated players.

Additionally, Gukesh has received immense encouragement from his parents, both doctors who paused their careers to support their son's aspirations, as well as his school that accommodated his chess pursuits. Sponsored by Westbridge Capital, which funds the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy, Gukesh represents a new era in Indian chess.

Aside from chess, Gukesh maintains a balanced lifestyle with interests such as meditation, swimming, and tennis. He remains focused on his ambitions of not only being the best chess player in the world, surpassing the likes of Magnus Carlsen, but also fostering a long and successful career in the chess arena.