NEW DELHI — In a historic achievement for chess, 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest-ever world champion in the sport after defeating defending champion Ding Liren from China in the final match held in Singapore on Thursday.
Dommaraju managed to secure a total of 7.5 points against Liren’s 6.5 points, breaking the previous record set by Garry Kasparov from Russia, who won the championship at the age of 22.

Having earned the title of grandmaster at the age of just 12, Dommaraju has been widely recognized as a prominent talent within the chess community. His journey to the world championship began earlier this year when he emerged victorious in the Candidates tournament, making him the youngest player ever to challenge for the world crown.

Following his spectacular win, Dommaraju was visibly emotional, shedding tears of joy and raising his arms in celebration. “I have dreamed about this moment for the last 10 years. I am thrilled to see that dream come to fruition,” he expressed to reporters after the match.

With this victory, he joins the ranks of Viswanathan Anand as only the second Indian to claim the world title. Anand, a five-time world chess champion, took to social media to express his pride in Dommaraju’s accomplishment, describing it as a significant moment for chess in India and a personal milestone for himself as a mentor.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his congratulations to the young champion, recognizing his “remarkable accomplishment” as a result of his exceptional skill, dedication, and relentless effort. He added that Dommaraju’s victory has cemented his position in chess history while inspiring countless young individuals to aim for greatness.

The match consisted of 14 rounds in a classical format and offered a prize fund totaling $2.5 million, showcasing the high stakes at play in this monumental contest.