Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh Becomes Youngest Ever World Chess Champion, Defeats China's Ding Liren

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh achieved a historic milestone on Thursday (12 December) by becoming the youngest world chess champion at just 18 years of age.

He clinched the title by defeating defending champion Ding Liren of China in the dramatic 14th and final game of their intense duel.

Gukesh sealed his victory with 7.5 points, surpassing Liren's 6.5, by triumphing in the final classical time control game of the 14-game match, which had largely seemed destined for a draw.

The young champion will take home a significant portion of the $2.5 million prize money for his remarkable achievement.

Gukesh, known for his calm demeanor at the chessboard, broke into a rare wide grin and raised his arms in jubilation after the win, marking a departure from his usual composed expression.

Prior to Gukesh’s historic win on Thursday, Russian chess legend Garry Kasparov held the record as the youngest world champion, claiming the title at 22 by defeating Anatoly Karpov in 1985.

Gukesh earned his spot in the championship as the youngest challenger in history, securing the opportunity by winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year.

Gukesh is now the second Indian to claim the world chess title, following in the footsteps of the iconic Viswanathan Anand.

Anand, a five-time world champion, last held the crown in 2013 before losing to Magnus Carlsen.

After an intense 58-move battle lasting four hours, Gukesh emerged victorious in the 14th game, becoming the 18th world chess champion in history.

Had Thursday’s game ended in a draw, the championship would have been decided through shorter tie-break games scheduled for Friday.

Gukesh had earlier secured victories in the third and eleventh rounds, while the 32-year-old Ding Liren claimed wins in the first and twelfth games.

The remaining games of the match ended in draws.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Gukesh on his "historic and exemplary" win.

"Congratulations to Gukesh D on his remarkable accomplishment. This is the result of his unparalleled talent, hard work and unwavering determination. His triumph has not only etched his name in the annals of chess history but has also inspired millions of young minds to dream big and pursue excellence. My best wishes for his future endeavours," PM Modi said in a post on X.

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