Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest-ever chess world champion, defeating reigning titleholder Ding Liren of China in their final match in Singapore. The match, which featured 14 rounds of classical play, carried a prize fund of $2.5 million.
At just 18 years old, Dommaraju clinched a 7.5-6.5 victory over Ding, surpassing the previous record held by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, who secured the title at 22.
A chess prodigy since becoming a grandmaster at 12, Dommaraju had already made a name for himself as a rising star in the chess world. He entered the championship match as the youngest challenger to the world title, having triumphed in the Candidates tournament earlier this year.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered his congratulations, praising Dommaraju’s “remarkable achievement” and attributing it to his extraordinary talent, perseverance, and unwavering commitment.
“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,” Modi added in his message.
Dommaraju becomes the second Indian to hold the world championship title, following in the footsteps of five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand.
Anand, who has mentored Dommaraju, wrote in a post on X, “It’s a proud moment for chess, a proud moment for India… and for me, a very personal moment of pride.”
Frances Ibiefo
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