SINGAPORE, Dec 12: In a remarkable achievement, Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh became the youngest world chess champion at just 18 years old, defeating reigning champion Ding Liren in a thrilling final game. This victory marks a new chapter in Indian chess history.
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Continuing the illustrious legacy of Viswanathan Anand, Gukesh is now only the second Indian to win this prestigious title, following Anand, who held the championship five times. Anand, now in semi-retirement at 55, played a crucial role in Gukesh’s development at his chess academy in Chennai.
Gukesh secured 7.5 points against Liren’s 6.5 by winning the 14th and final game, which appeared to be headed for a draw for a significant part. His triumph earned him an impressive USD 1.3 million (around Rs 11.03 crore) from the total prize purse of USD 2.5 million.
“I have dreamed of this moment for the last 10 years. I am thrilled to see my dream come true,” the modest Chennai native expressed to reporters after his historic win. “It was quite emotional for me because I wasn’t expecting to win, but when the opportunity arose, I seized it.”
The victory drew widespread praise across India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling it “historic and exemplary.” “This success is a testament to his unmatched talent, dedication, and perseverance,” Modi remarked on X.
The usually reserved teenager celebrated his victory with a wide smile and raised arms, contrasting with his typical poker face during matches. Even when analysts suggested the match might end in a tie-break, Gukesh remained composed as he gained the lead.
A momentary slip by Liren in what seemed like a drawn endgame left everyone stunned. Both players had a rook and a bishop, with Gukesh having two pawns against Liren’s one, striving for an advantage without much success initially. However, Gukesh’s relentless pursuit ultimately led to Liren’s collapse, granting Gukesh the title.
Prior to Gukesh’s victory, the youngest world champion title was held by Russian legend Garry Kasparov, who won at 22 in 1985 by defeating Anatoly Karpov. Gukesh entered the championship as the youngest challenger after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year.
“Every chess player aspires to live this dream, and now I am living mine,” said Gukesh. He clinched the decisive game against Liren after 58 moves in four hours, becoming the 18th world chess champion overall.
If the final game had ended in a draw, the winner would have been determined by tie-breaks scheduled for the following day. Gukesh had previously won the third and eleventh games, while Liren had victories in the opening and twelfth games, with all other matches resulting in draws.
Reflecting on his experience, Gukesh recalled, “I arrived here suddenly and lost the first game. Thankfully, I ran into Vishy Sir (Anand) in the lift, who reminded me that I still had plenty of games left.” Anand had a similar experience in his 2006 match against Veselin Topalov, which he eventually won after losing the first game.
The pivotal move occurred on the 55th turn when Liren, overlooking the danger, opted for a rook trade that Gukesh immediately capitalized on. Realizing the title was within his grasp, Gukesh sealed the win just three moves later as Liren conceded defeat.
The Moves:
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 e6 5.0–0 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nge7 7.c4 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qd1 d4 10.e3 Bc5 11.exd4 Bxd4 12.Nc3 0–0 13.Nb5 Bb6 14.b3 a6 15.Nc3 Bd4 16.Bb2 e5 17.Qd2 Be6 18.Nd5 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.Nf4 exf4 21.Bxc6 Bxb2 22.Qxb2 Rb8 23.Rfd1 Qb6 24.Bf3 fxg3 25.hxg3 b4 26.a4 bxa3 27.Rxa3 g6 28.Qd4 Qb5 29.b4 Qxb4 30.Qxb4 Rxb4 31.Ra8 Rxa8 32.Bxa8 g5 33.Bd5 Bf5 34.Rc1 Kg7 35.Rc7 Bg6 36.Rc4 Rb1+ 37.Kg2 Re1 38.Rb4 h5 39.Ra4 Re5 40.Bf3 Kh6 41.Kg1 Re6 42.Rc4 g4 43.Bd5 Rd6 44.Bb7 Kg5 45.f3 f5 46.fxg4 hxg4 47.Rb4 Bf7 48.Kf2 Rd2+ 49.Kg1 Kf6 50.Rb6+ Kg5 51.Rb4 Be6 52.Ra4 Rb2 53.Ba8 Kf6 54.Rf4 Ke5 55.Rf2 Rxf2 56.Kxf2 Bd5 57.Bxd5 Kxd5 58.Ke3 Ke5 (PTI)
