Gukesh Donmaraj became the youngest world chess champion after defeating champion Ding Liren in the final of the World Chess Championship in Singapore on Thursday.
An 18-year-old prodigy called Gukesh won the $2.5 million battle with a dramatic 14th game of classic chess, winning 7.5 to 6.5.
Gukesh, the second-youngest grandmaster in history at the age of 12, represents a new wave of Indian talent since India’s Viswanathan Anand broke Russia’s dominance to win the title in 2007. Gukesh calls Anand his “inspiration and role”. model. “
Thursday’s decider came after a tense battle with both players tied heading into the final round of the Classic.
Gukesh took Ding’s breath away in Game 13 on Wednesday, and Ding admitted in the post-match press conference that he almost gave up, but he overcame the bashing and finished the match in a draw, with both players on 6.5 points. Lined up.
Gukesh said at the post-match press conference: “It is fitting that the match went to the final stage, because we both showed a lot of fighting spirit and played a very entertaining game of chess.”
Analysts said Ding made a major blunder in the decisive 14th match, ultimately handing the title to the teenager Gukesh.
“Maybe I got very emotional because I never expected to get that position,” Gukesh told reporters, according to Reuters.
“We all know what kind of player Din is. He has been one of the best players in history for the last few years. For me he is a true world champion,” Gukesh said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the victory was “historic and exemplary!”
PM Modi said on the X program that Gukesh “has not only carved his mark in the history of chess but also inspired millions of young people to dream big and pursue excellence.”
There’s no doubt that this tournament is the marquee event in gaming, but this year was different.
Unusually, considering the Russians have dominated the game for decades, not only were they absent from the final, but so was Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, one of the sport’s most famous figures. I was absent.
Carlsen, 34, has been at the top of the sport since he was a teenager and was dubbed the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), but he gave up the title in 2022 due to a lack of motivation. His last major fight, a defense against Russia’s Ian Nepomniachy in 2021, drew a record online audience.
The absence of Carlsen, who remains one of the most marketable figures in chess, was felt in Singapore, while Ding’s recent struggles also cast a shadow over the final.
Last year, he won the title by defeating Nepomniatchi. His victory was a proud moment for China, confirming its status as a chess powerhouse.
