Gukesh Dommaraju, a 18-year-old, has etched his name into the annals of chess gaming history by becoming the youngest ever to win the undisputed World Chess Championship title.
On Thursday, Gukesh not only won the ultimate chess but also cemented his status as one of the game’s most brilliant prodigies by defeating reigning champion Ding Liren in the 14th and last game of a see-saw battle.
After the great Viswanathan Anand, Gukesh is the only Indian to win the World Chess Championship title and the 18th Grandmaster overall. His victory is being heralded as a historic moment for India and the chess world alike.
In the final match, Gukesh defeated Ding Liren of China 7.5–6.5. The young man couldn’t control his tears as he realized that he had bagged the Championship.
Following his significant victory Gukesh said, “I was dreaming this moment for the last 10 years. I am happy that I realised the dream (and made it) into reality. I got a bit emotional because I was not expecting to win. But then I got a chance to press on”.
The Intense Game
After 13 intense and unpredictable games, both players went into the match knotted with 6.5 points each, knowing that only a victory—one point—could earn them the coveted World Champion title. However, as the match continued to the fifth hour, it appeared like a draw was inevitable but the reigning champion made a blunder, one that cost him the title.
He also suffered another setback when he lost immediately after taking the lead in game 11. His response? To be the first one into the playing arena for a change in game 13. As he later said: “I was ready for a fight.” That’s been his constant state of mind for the past three weeks.
He often overstated his position when playing chess on the board in Singapore, which may have been a reflection of his opponent’s mental state. Perhaps the euphoric optimism of youth. Even when his opponent held the advantage, he turned down draws twice. The man who wears the crown on his head uncomfortably, his opponent Ding Liren, has helped him. After having the advantage in games 2, 4, 5, and 6, the Chinese grandmaster has been guilty of settling for draws, seemingly lacking the motivation to strive for victory.
The fact that even chess royalty, who are the best observers of other players, cannot determine the 18-year-old’s ceiling should frighten the rest of the world.
Who is Gukesh D?
On May 29, 2006, Gukesh Dommaraju, also known as Gukesh D, was born in Chennai, India. According to sources, his mother works as a microbiologist, while his father is a surgeon. In contrast to many prodigies, Gukesh started learning chess at the age of seven.
Gukesh’s school, which is a member of Chennai’s Velammal group of institutions and is renowned for turning out gifted students like Praggnanandhaa R, introduced him to chess.
Within six months of beginning his chess career, he was able to become a FIDE-rated player with the support of his first instructor, Mr. Bhaskar.
Gukesh was unstoppable after that. Two years later, while being coached by Mr. Vijayanand, he won the under-9 division and the title of candidate master (CM) at the 2015 Asian School Chess Championships. Gukesh won five gold medals at the Asian Youth Chess Championships, including the under-12 team rapid and blitz events and the under-12 individual classical, rapid, and blitz divisions. With an outstanding 10/11 score, he won the under-12 title at the World Youth Chess Championships that same year.
In March 2017, he won the title of International Master at the 34th Cappelle-la-Grande Open, which was his next big break. He became the second-youngest chess grandmaster in history at the tender age of twelve. Gukesh ended Vishwanathan Anand’s 37-year dominance as the top-ranked Indian chess player in 2023.
“I want to become the youngest chess champion in the world”
It has always been said that Gukesh is an ambitious player who is constantly focused on winning the World Champion title.
This is demonstrated by a widely shared video from his early years in which the 11-year-old declares to IM Sagar Shah of ChessBase India, prior to becoming a Grandmaster, “I want to become the youngest chess champion in the world”.
Vishnu Prasanna, Gukesh’s former instructor and grandmaster, told the Indian Express that Gukesh had always taken chess “much more seriously” than other pupils his age, starting at age 11. Gukesh, he claimed, had demonstrated “an obsession about the game and to be No 1.”
As mind guru Paddy Upton told the media publication, “Gukesh had memorised the entire book on playing in a world championship, right down to the minutest detail, before he went to Singapore.”
Gukesh, with his sights set on the prize, became the youngest winner of the Candidates ever, securing a spot among the two World Championship candidates.
Following D. Gukesh’s victory at the World Chess Championship, a video of his father’s emotional response went viral. When he heard of his son’s victory, ENT surgeon Dr. Rajinikanth was nervously watching the sport on his cell phone. Feeling overwhelmed, he hurried to the hall and gave Gukesh a passionate embrace as they celebrated the momentous victory. Social media was instantly flooded with people’s heartfelt reactions to this heartwarming occasion.
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