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- Published: December 12, 2024 22:15
New Delhi: Singapore has witnessed a historic feat as 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest Indian to become the World Chess Champion. The Indian Grandmaster ousted the Chinese GM Ding Liren in the final Game 14 of the World Chess Championships. With his monumental win, Gukesh becomes the 18th GM and the second Indian GM, after the legendary Viswanathan Anand, to win the world championship title.
Talking about the final game, both players came after a rollercoaster of 13 games where both players were tied in a tight draw. Both competitors stood on level ground in the final game, having nabbed 6.5 points each. Subsequently, Gukesh and Liren needed just one point to clinch the world chess championship title. Liren who was playing with the white pieces, took a valiant step, suspending his tried-and-tested London opening and opting for a reverse Greenfield. It showcased the defending champion’s intent to not settle for an easy draw at any cost.
Gukesh, though, did not flinch. He came out with intent, opening his files to build his pieces. The first flurry of moves passed in a short time, and an asymmetrical pawn structure was arrived at, with the Masters’ database unable to retrieve any prior games as such, denoting the possibility of both battling it out long and hard in yet another novel battle.
The middlegame saw both competitors piling the pressure on each other, with Ding employing a couple of traps to entice the young Challenger. But, Gukesh kept his composure, gauging every move and holding strength in the centre of the board continually to keep Ding at bay.
An intense game of exchanges ensued, but with the opportunities and openings seemingly dwindling, Ding opted to make his first intention for a draw known, playing 20.Nf4, posing the question to the Challenger. Gukesh though did not respond enthusiastically, opting to draw the battle out longer. But, after 30 moves, both players opted to enter the endgame, as they indulged in a trade of rooks and queens, pushing the pace.
Netizens react to Gukesh’s win
Here’s how the internet reacted to Gukesh’s win:
In a game of 64 squares, you’ve opened a world of endless possibilities. Congratulations, @DGukesh, on becoming the 18th World Champion at just 18! Following in Vishy’s footsteps, you’re now guiding the next wave of Indian chess prodigies. 🇮🇳♟️🏆
pic.twitter.com/3kPCzGEv1d— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 12, 2024
🇮🇳 Gukesh D 🥹
Ladies and gentlemen, the 18th WORLD CHAMPION! #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/CgzYBgeTfq— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 12, 2024
The new World Chess Champion is an Indian. Thank you dearest #GukeshD for making 1.4 Billion Indians happy and proud! Zindabad! Jai Hind! ❤️😍🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 #WorldChampion #Chess @DGukesh pic.twitter.com/PB19ABeWs1
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) December 12, 2024