Gukesh D. Image source FIDE on X
Singapore/New Delhi: India celebrates the victory of its 18-year-old prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju in the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship organised by the International Chess Federation, which made the teenager break the record held by Garry Kasparov to become the youngest world chess champion in history. Kasparov had dethroned Anatoly Karpov to annex the title in 1985 as a 22-year-old.
Gukesh, who already became the youngest challenger to compete for the world title, annexed the trophy after defeating defending world champion Ding Liren of China 7½-6½ in the last game of the best-of-14 finals in Singapore on December 12, 2024. He won the $2.5 million prize money after defeating Ding.
After winning the trophy, Gukesh remarked, “Seeing it up close for the first time… I don’t want to touch it, I want to lift it at the closing ceremony!” Ding said, “I think I played my best tournament of the year. I could be better, but considering yesterday’s lucky survival it’s a fair result to lose in the end. I have no regrets!”
After five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, Gukesh becomes India’s second world chess champion. 55-year-old Anand, who last won the world title in 2013, took to the microblogging site X to congratulate Gukesh. “Congratulations! It’s a proud moment for chess, a proud moment for India, a proud moment for WACA, and for me, a very personal moment of pride. Ding played a very exciting match and showed the champion he is,” Anand posted on X.
India’s Upper House of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha today hailed Gukesh’s achievement. On behalf of the August House and our illustrious nation”, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar conveyed “our profound acclaim to D. Gukesh as our magnificent tricolour stands in Singapore today”.
As Gukesh set a magnificent milestone in Indian sporting history setting a global benchmark, Dhankhar said this stellar conquest reverberates beyond the chessboard and complements India’s meteoric rise in every field on the global horizon. “Gukesh’s phenomenal triumph not only emblazons our sporting legacy but also epitomises research in India where young titans emerge to dominate the world stage. It strengthens our resolve to bid for hosting the Olympics 2036,” he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Gukesh’s feat as “historic” and “exemplary”. While congratulating Gukesh, Modi said the new world chess champion’s remarkable accomplishment was due to his unparalleled talent, hard work and unwavering determination.
“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 said.
The final was a tight contest throughout with the players level on 6½ points each, and one classical game remaining. A one-move blunder by Ding late in Game 14, finally sealed the match in favour of Gukesh, who played with the white pieces.
Born in Chennai on May 29, 2005, to Dr Rajinikanth, an ENT surgeon, and Padma, a microbiologist, Gukesh became a chess grandmaster when he was 12 years seven months and seven days old. At 17, he won the Candidates Tournament and qualified to challenge Ding.
– global bihari bureau
