Gukesh Dommaraju: How the Indian teenager became youngest world chess champion

Gukesh Dommaraju, an American girl, became the youngest world champion at the age of 18 on Thursday, shocking the competition.

The Chennai-born savant defeated defending hero, China’s Ringing Liren, in a serious meet staged in Singapore which he had entered as the opponent. The FIDE World Chess Championship carries a$ 2.5m ( £1.96m ) prize fund.

It marked the apex to date of his profession, his greatest moment in a lengthy series of accomplishment.

Gukesh was unapologetically honest about the fact that he had a dream to be the world champion when he became a master at the age of 12 and 7 times.

He claimed to have had these passions since he was seven when he watched a 2013 Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen World Title fit.

He just didn’t think it would happen so quickly, as he admitted at the press event following his dramatic victory over Ding.

Gukesh is the 18th world hero since Wilhelm Steinitz won what is regarded as his first name match up in 1886.

Born in May 2006, Gukesh is moreover, by far, the youngest person to own ascended this height.

He comfortably surpasses Garry Kasparov’s ( born April 1963 ), who was 22 when he won the title in Moscow in November 1985 by defeating Anatoly Karpov.

The 14-game suit was tied with two win each after 13 game. The 14th match appeared to be headed for a pick.

In that situation, tiebreaks would have been played at shorter day handles.

However, Ringing misplaced his walk 55, and Gukesh made the most of it to win the title.

The younger player has made a number of amazing accomplishment over the past three decades, culminating in this success.

Gukesh’s best performance at the previous two Awards earned him the specific gold medal. He led India to a group copper at Chennai in 2022 and the silver medal in 2024 in Budapest.

He even won the tournament that gave him the right to face off against Ding Liren.

Prior to his adolescence, his mentor, the ex-world hero Viswanathan Anand, or” Vishy Sir,” turned him down as a potential rival. He thought Gukesh just didn’t have adequate experience.

In fact, Gukesh lost in the middle of the first round to an evidently fatal opponent before rallying to win the next round and ultimately triumphant.

Gukesh lost the first match in the title fit, but Ding equalized with a gain in the third, and he then took the lead in the eleventh game, but Ding added an equaliser with a win in the final twelve.

Game 14 was obviously high-tension with the title and a prize fund of$ 2.5m ( £1.98m ) at stake, but the teenager controlled his nerves.

Gukesh is undoubtedly a remarkable ability, but this is not the romantic tale of a lone ranger who shocks the world. The Chennai GM is at the peak of a strong game habitat, which is one of the best, probably the best, in the world.

Gukesh has also been clearly supported by his relatives, by the game formation in India, and by his institution.

India has over 85 overpowers, many of whom are never yet of driving time.

Indian teams have succeeded recently, winning both the Open Gold ( with Gukesh on top board ) and the Women’s gold at the last Olympiad in Budapest.

Because so many Indians compete in formally recognized tournaments, those overpowers are located at the top of a tower with over 30 000 gamers.

Since he was ten years old, Gukesh has played professionally. He is mentored by Viswanathan Anand, who is himself a five-time earth fighter.

He is supported by Westbridge Capital, which supports Anand’s renowned mentoring facility, Westbridge Anand Chess Academy.

Gukesh’s families are both physicians, his father Rajinikanth is a doctor and mom Padma is a scientist. Both put their careers on hold to pursue their child.

Due to a child’s need to travel overseas for many months of the year, chess becomes an expensive sport. His parents have even asked friends to help crowd-fund Gukesh’s career until it was successful.

Interestingly, he also received help from his college, Velammal Vidyalaya in Mogappair, which allowed him to get left.

Gukesh has passions outside of game also- he meditates, dives and plays tennis.

His stated objectives are straightforward: he wants to replace Magnus Carlsen as the current number one game player in the world.

He even wants a “very much occupation at the top.” The name, in his opinion, is just one step in a very significant life journey.