In a landmark moment for the global chess community, 18-year-old Indian prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju has become history’s youngest world chess champion. Dommaraju clinched the coveted title on Thursday, outplaying China’s defending champion Ding Liren in a decisive showdown during Singapore’s FIDE World Chess Championship.
The Chennai-born talent shattered a decades-old record set by Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov, who claimed the world title at the age of 22 back in 1985.
Gukesh Dommaraju, already a household name in chess circles after achieving grand-master status by the age of 12, entered the final as a perceived underdog, ranked fifth globally and second within India.
The turning point came in the 14th and final game, where Dommaraju played as Black. Although Ding held a strong position for most of the match, a critical miscalculation on his 55th move allowed the young Indian a game-winning advantage. By the end of this 14-game series, Dommaraju secured the title with a final score of 7.5-6.5.
Gukesh Dommaraju’s mental fortitude was on display in Singapore, as he remained composed while Ding—the reigning champion since 2023 and China’s first world chess titleholder—struggled to maintain momentum in the decisive stages. Ding’s own year had been marked by challenges, including a break from the game and frank discussions about mental health.
Thursday’s match began with many analysts predicting a draw, but Ding’s late blunder changed the narrative instantly. Recognizing his irreversible misstep, Ding resigned just three moves later.
With this triumph, Dommaraju becomes only the second Indian to wear the world chess crown, joining the illustrious ranks of five-time champion Viswanathan Anand.
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