D Gukesh Becomes Youngest Chess World Champion at 18

Indian prodigy defeats Ding Liren in decisive World Chess Championship game, but faces skepticism and future challenges.

D Gukesh, at 18 years old, defeated defending champion Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 in the World Chess Championship held in Singapore, becoming the youngest world champion in history.
Despite his victory, Gukesh is ranked fifth globally, while fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi is ranked fourth, making him India's top-rated player.
Magnus Carlsen, who abdicated the world title in 2023, criticized the classical chess format, calling it an inadequate measure of the best player, and suggested Gukesh's win lacked the highest standards of play.
Viswanathan Anand speculated a 5-10% chance of an all-Indian title face-off between Gukesh and Erigaisi in the future, as both players continue to rise in global prominence.
Gukesh now faces the challenge of proving his consistency in major upcoming tournaments, including Wijk aan Zee, Norway Chess, and the Sinquefield Cup, while rivals like Caruana and Erigaisi aim to challenge his title in 2026.