Indian chess prodigy, Gukesh Dommaraju, made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest-ever undisputed world chess champion.
The 18-year-old secured the title after defeating China’s Ding Liren in the decisive final match of their series held in Singapore.
The International Chess Federation confirmed Dommaraju’s record-breaking feat, calling him “the Youngest World Champion in history” in a post on X.
The victory came after a tense endgame that seemed destined for a draw until Liren blundered, giving Dommaraju the opportunity to strike.
The 32-year-old Liren, visibly distraught, slumped over the table as Dommaraju buried his face in his hands, overcome with emotion.
The dramatic conclusion electrified the crowd, which included a significant contingent of Indian fans and members of Singapore’s Indian diaspora.
Loud cheers and chants of “Dommaraju” echoed through the viewing halls as he entered the post-match press conference.
The tightly contested game appeared headed for a draw, but Dommaraju capitalized on his single-pawn advantage, supported by a rook and bishop, to press on. His persistence paid off.
Reflecting on his approach, he told reporters, “My whole strategy for this match was to push as much as possible in every single game. It just takes one game for the strategy to pay off.”
Dommaraju’s triumph in the 14th game earned him a final score of 7.5 to Liren’s 6.5, crowning him as the youngest-ever world chess champion.
This achievement surpassed the milestone set by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, who claimed the title at age 22.
Dommaraju also became the second Indian to hold the title, following the legendary Viswanathan Anand, a five-time world champion.
Ever gracious, Dommaraju praised his opponent, saying Liren “fought like a true champion.”
His journey to the title began earlier this year when he won the Candidates Tournament in Toronto, Canada, in April, earning him the right to challenge Liren.
The championship match at Resorts World Sentosa began on November 25 and was marked by a series of fiercely contested games.
Liren struck first, winning the opening game, but Dommaraju equalized with a victory in game three. A string of seven draws followed before Dom
