NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, DC, December 16, 2024:Dommaraju Gukesh, an 18-year-old Indian grandmaster, made history on Thursday by capturing the World Chess Championship in Singapore. In a dramatic final match, Gukesh defeated reigning champion Ding Liren of China, securing his place as the 18th and youngest undisputed world champion in the history of chess.
The decisive moment came in the final game when Ding, under intense pressure, made a critical error in a defensible position, reports NYT. The error allowed Gukesh to force an endgame where he could promote a pawn to a queen, leading to a straightforward checkmate. As Ding extended his hand in resignation, the usually stoic Gukesh clasped his hands in disbelief before bursting into tears, overcome by the enormity of his achievement.
Gukesh’s victory marks the pinnacle of a meteoric rise for the young chess prodigy, who hails from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, often referred to as the chess capital of India. He first gained global attention in 2019, when he became the second-youngest Grandmaster in history at just 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days, breaking the Indian record set by his contemporary, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa.
In recent years, Gukesh has cemented his status as one of the world’s top players. In 2023, he achieved a historic milestone by crossing the 2750 Elo rating, becoming the youngest player to reach that mark. He also surpassed Indian legend Viswanathan Anand in the FIDE rankings, a symbolic moment signaling the emergence of a new generation of Indian chess talent.
Gukesh’s aggressive and creative playing style, coupled with his ability to thrive under pressure, has drawn comparisons to chess greats like Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen. His performance at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai, where he led Team India 2 with an undefeated streak and won an individual gold medal, further solidified his reputation as a formidable competitor.
Cover photo: By Frans Peeters – https://www.flickr.com/photos/suspeeters/53467032837/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=144718430
