Move over, Garry Kasparov! There's a new record-holder in town 👑. India's chess prodigy, Gukesh Dommaraju, just became the youngest world chess champion at the age of 18, after a thrilling showdown against China's Ding Liren in Singapore. In a nail-biting finale to the 14-game match, Gukesh snatched victory with the black pieces, capitalizing on a rare blunder by the seasoned Ding Liren. The final score? A razor-thin 7.5-6.5 in favor of the young Indian sensation. Chess fans worldwide watched in awe as Gukesh broke Kasparov's long-standing record, set back in 1985 when Kasparov was 22. This makes Gukesh not only the 18th world champion but also the youngest ever. Talk about making history! 🏆 Ding Liren, who clinched the world title in 2023 after defeating Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, had a challenging year leading up to this match. Despite a strong start with a surprise win in the opening round, Ding couldn't hold off Gukesh's relentless advance. Gukesh earned his spot by winning the intense Candidates Tournament in April, a grueling battle featuring fellow Indian chess stars Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi. It's clear that India is becoming a powerhouse in the chess world! ♟️🇮🇳 Their success doesn't stop there. In September, the Indian teams dazzled at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, snagging gold in both the open and women's sections. Many credit this golden era of Indian chess to the legendary Viswanathan Anand, whose efforts to promote the game are truly paying off. Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen, who had reigned supreme since 2013, stepped away from the title in 2022, citing a lack of motivation. But with fresh faces like Gukesh shaking up the scene, the future of chess looks brighter than ever! Ready to dive into the world of chess? Now's the time to get inspired by these young champions lighting up the global stage. Who knows? You might be the next prodigy we write about! 😉
Reference(s):
Dommaraju edges Ding to become youngest world chess champion
cgtn.com
