In brief
In a thrilling turn of events, Gukesh Dommaraju has made history by becoming the youngest world chess champion ever at the tender age of 18. The Chennai prodigy faced off against China's Ding Liren in a highly anticipated championship match held in Singapore, ultimately seizing victory and a $2.5 million prize fund. Gukesh, who became a grandmaster at the age of 12 and had dreams of championship glory since watching a World Title match at seven, expressed disbelief at his swiftness in achieving this dream. After a series of twists in the match, including a notable blunder from Ding on move 55, Gukesh clinched the championship. This triumph is just the latest in a series of remarkable accomplishments for the young player, including gold medals at recent chess Olympiads and a legacy supported by India's strong chess infrastructure and mentoring from former champion Viswanathan Anand. Gukesh's journey highlights the robust ecosystem that nurtured his talents, as he pledges to continue striving toward the pinnacle of chess excellence.
