India’s Gukesh Dommaraju Becomes Youngest World Chess Champion at 18

The Chennai-born prodigy dethroned China's Ding Liren in a dramatic 14-game World Chess Championship, marking a new era for Indian chess.

Gukesh Dommaraju defeated defending champion Ding Liren in the 14th game of the 2024 World Chess Championship, held in Singapore, to claim the title.
At 18, Gukesh is now the youngest world chess champion in history, surpassing Garry Kasparov's record set in 1985 at age 22.
The match was a tense back-and-forth, with Gukesh capitalizing on a critical blunder by Ding in the final game to secure victory.
Gukesh's triumph highlights India's rapid emergence as a chess powerhouse, with over 85 grandmasters and a growing infrastructure for nurturing young talent.
The victory drew praise from Indian leaders, sports icons, and former world champion Viswanathan Anand, who mentored Gukesh and called it a proud moment for India.