Introduction

In a breathtaking turn of events, Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has made history by becoming the world’s youngest chess champion at just 18 years old. The Chennai-born prodigy stunned the global chess scene on Thursday when he triumphed over reigning champion Ding Liren of China in a nail-biting match held in Singapore. This championship not only showcased Gukesh's exceptional talent but also came with a staggering prize fund of $2.5 million.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Gukesh's remarkable rise in the chess world has been punctuated by numerous accolades. He became a grandmaster at the tender age of 12 years and 7 months, paving the way for his dream of becoming world champion—a dream he first conceived at just 7 years old while watching Viswanathan Anand face Magnus Carlsen in a World Title match in 2013.

Historic Victory

In a press conference following his historic victory, Gukesh admitted that while he had multiple opportunities to secure a win, nerves often got the best of him. “It was a sudden change, and I could not process all the new information so quickly,” he confessed to the BBC after his win.

Record-Breaking Achievement

With this victory, Gukesh becomes the 18th world champion since the title's inception by Wilhelm Steinitz in 1886. Remarkably, he breaks the previous record held by chess legend Garry Kasparov, who was 22 when he won the title in Moscow in 1985.

The Championship Match

The championship match itself was filled with suspense, as after 13 games, it was evenly split with two wins each. A potential draw loomed over the final game, which could have led to tiebreaks, but a blunder by Ding on move 55 allowed Gukesh to seize the moment and clinch his title.

Recent Accomplishments

In the past three years, Gukesh has accumulated a string of impressive accomplishments, including earning individual gold medals in the last two Chess Olympiads and leading the Indian team to triumph both at home in 2022 and in Budapest in 2024.

Mentorship and Training

Notably, his mentor, Viswanathan Anand, initially doubted Gukesh’s potential, citing a lack of experience. However, Gukesh proved him wrong, rebounding from early setbacks to ultimately emerge victorious. With an impressive mentorship from Anand, who is himself a five-time world champion, Gukesh's support system has been essential to his success.

The Chess Landscape in India

India currently boasts over 85 grandmasters, with many of them emerging at young ages, and Gukesh stands as a testament to the thriving chess ecosystem of the country. Training at the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy, he has benefited from both institutional support and the encouragement of his family.

Support from Family and Education

His parents, who are both doctors, made considerable sacrifices and even instigated crowd-funding efforts to ensure their son could pursue his chess dreams. On his journey to becoming a global chess prodigy, Gukesh has also been afforded educational support from Velammal Vidyalaya in Mogappair, allowing him to balance academics with his burgeoning chess career.

Personal Interests and Future Aspirations

Outside of chess, Gukesh has diverse interests; he practices meditation, swims, and plays tennis. But his ambitions remain laser-focused. He aims to dethrone the current number one player Magnus Carlsen and aspires to have a lengthy career at the pinnacle of chess.

Conclusion

As Gukesh Dommaraju steps into the limelight of chess history, fans around the world are left wondering—what lies ahead for this phenomenal young talent? Will he redefine the standards of chess greatness and inspire a new generation of players? The chess world is surely watching closely.