Gukesh Becomes Youngest Ever World Chess Champion

Why in the news?

India’s D. Gukesh defeated China’s Ding Liren in the 2024 World Chess Championship final, breaking Garry Kasparov’s record as the youngest champion. He is only the 18th champion in the sport’s history.

Gukesh Becomes Youngest Ever World Chess Champion

Gukesh Becomes Youngest World Chess Champion:

  • Gukesh, an 18-year-old chess prodigy from Chennai, defeated defending champion Ding Liren of China in the final game of the 2024 World Chess Championship in Singapore.
  • With this win, Gukesh broke Garry Kasparov’s nearly four-decade-long record to become the youngest World Chess Champion in history.
  • The victory after 58 moves gave Gukesh a total of 7.5 points, the threshold for securing the world title.

Key Highlights of the Championship

  • The final game was heading for a draw until Ding made a decisive error on the 55th move with his rook, sealing Gukesh’s victory.
  • This was the first-ever World Chess Championship final contested by two Asian players and marked India’s rise in global chess.
  • Gukesh is only the 18th World Chess Champion and the third Asian, following Viswanathan Anand and Ding Liren.

Gukesh’s Journey to the Title

  • Gukesh’s campaign started with a loss in the first game but he equalized in the third. Despite multiple drawn games, he took the lead in the 11th game before securing the title in the final match.
  • He earned his spot by winning the Candidates Tournament earlier this year in Toronto, outperforming fellow Indians Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi.
  • Gukesh’s role in India’s historic twin golds at the 2024 Chess Olympiad further showcased his talent, cementing his position as a global chess icon.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times