It’s a moment of joy moment for India and the chess world. On December 13, Dommaraju Gukeshย became the youngest chess world champion ever. The 18-year-old boy from India marked his name in history by defeating the champion Ding Liren of China in the 18th FIDE World Chess Championship held in Singapore.
Gukesh scored 7.5 points, surpassing Ding’s 6.5 points in the 14-match series. Gukesh secured three wins while Ding managed two and the remaining nine games were draws. The final match was a nail-biting contest lasting over five hours. The turning point came when Ding made the 55th move, locking Gukeshโs historic victory.
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Breaking Records and Making History
By winning the championship at just 18 years of age, Gukesh broke the previous record of legendary Grandmaster Garry Kasparov, who became the world champion at 22. Gukeshโs achievement also made him the second Indian world chess champion.
One of the names behind Gukeshโs historic victory is Paddy Upton. Paddy is a renowned mental conditioning coach, who has previously worked with the worldโs top athletes. Upton played a significant role in shaping Gukesh’s mindset and emotional resilience throughout the championship.
Celebrations Across India
The victory is a moment of celebration across the chess community and the nation. Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand congratulated Gukesh on his achievement, calling it a proud moment for India. Anand shared on social media, “This is a proud moment for chess and India. Personally, it is a moment of immense pride for me.”
Indiaโs President Droupadi Murmu also praised Gukesh. In her message, she said, “Gukesh has made the entire country proud.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Gukesh and praised Gukesh’s unparalleled talent, hard work, and determination. He remarked, “Your triumph inspires millions of young minds to dream big and pursue excellence.”
Dommaraju Gukeshโs journey from a chess enthusiast to the worldโs youngest chess champion inspires countless young minds in India and the world. Gukesh has not only brought glory to the nation but also set new benchmarks in the world of chess.