18-year-old Gukesh beats Ding Liren of China in the game of a thrilling showdown chess champion.
New Delhi, December 28, 2024 – In a historic achievement, 18-year-old Indian chess prodigy D. Gukesh has become the youngest-ever undisputed World Chess Champion by defeating China’s Ding Liren in the 2024 World Chess Championship held in Singapore. Gukesh clinched the title with a score of 7.5-6.5 after an intense 14-game match.
With his victory against the defending champion, which came after 58 moves, Gukesh took his points tally to 7.5 points. That was the requirement for a player to win the World title. If the 14th game had ended in a draw, a series of tie-breaker games of speed chess were scheduled to be played on Friday. The game was heading towards a draw in fact, until Ding made a fatal error on the 55th move with his rook. There was no coming back for the Chinese Grandmaster after that.
This was the first-ever World championship match contested by two Asian countries. And it was a match between the players from India and China, the world’s two most populous countries and the continent’s superpowers.
Gukesh is only the third Asian to win the World chess champion championship. Viswanathan Anand, who is now a mentor for Gukesh, was the first, and Ding the second.
Gukesh is also only the 18th world champion in history, which dates back to 1886. That there have been only 17 undisputed world champions before him puts into perspective the enormity of the achievement.
His campaign had begun on the wrong foot, though. He lost the first game, despite having white pieces (considered slightly advantageous usually). The second game was drawn, and Gukesh won the third to equalise the match at 1.5-1.5.
All the following seven games were drawn. Then Gukesh won the 11th game to take the lead for the first time in the match, but Ding struck back immediately to draw level. That meant the match would go to the bitter end, contrary to the expectations of most top players, who had tipped Gukesh as the clear favourite, based on current form.
By virtue of being the chess champion, Ding, who defeated Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi in last year’s World title match, had booked his flight ticket to Singapore. Gukesh qualified for the World championship by winning the qualifying tournament — the candidates, which was held earlier this year in Toronto.
Played a major role in chess champion
There were two other Indians in the candidates (R. Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi), as well as two in the women’s event (Koneru Humpy and R. Vaishali). After that, Gukesh went on to play a major role in India’s stunning twin triumph at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
India’s men’s and women’s teams won the team gold. Only two other countries had done it before — the erstwhile Soviet Union and China.
Gukesh played on the top-board (where every country would usually field its best player) and won the individual gold. Back in 2022, he had clinched the same medal at the Chennai Chess Olympiad, winning an incredible eight games in a row.
That was the turning point in his career.
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Gukesh’s victory is not just a personal milestone but also a significant moment for Indian chess on the global stage. He has been a rising star in the chess world, earning the title of Grandmaster at the age of 12 and becoming the third-youngest Grandmaster in history. His journey to the top has been marked by numerous accolades, including winning the Candidates Tournament earlier this year, which secured his place in the World Championship.
The final game of the chess champion championship was particularly dramatic. Ding Liren, the defending champion, made a critical error on his 55th move, allowing Gukesh to capitalize on the opportunity and secure the decisive victory. Gukesh’s calmness and strategic brilliance under pressure were key factors in his success.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Gukesh following his victory and praised his determination and dedication. Modi also received the original chessboard from the final game as a memento. During their interaction, Modi highlighted the importance of yoga and meditation in Gukesh’s journey and commended his parents for their unwavering support.
Gukesh’s achievement has been celebrated across India, with many seeing it as an inspiration for young aspiring chess players. His success is a testament to his hard work, talent, and the growing prominence of Indian chess on the world stage.
As Gukesh basks in his well-deserved glory, the chess world eagerly awaits his future endeavors and the impact he will continue to have on the sport.
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