18-year-old Indian teenager turns into youngest world chess champion in historical past

Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju turned the youngest world chess champion in historical past after beating reigning champion China’s Ding Liren on Thursday.

Dommaraju, at 18, is 4 years youthful than Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov when he received the title in 1985 at age 22.

The Chennai prodigy has lengthy been a famous person within the chess world, having achieved chess grandmaster standing on the age of 12.

However he was thought of the challenger for the ultimate of the FIDE World Chess Championship held in Singapore this yr.

Enjoying on black, Dommaraju received the match after an under-pressure Ding stumbled and made a uncommon mistake whereas in a powerful place, the sport’s commentators noticed.

The 18-year-old clinched victory with a closing rating of seven.5-6.5, ending round 15 matches between the 2 gamers carefully adopted by chess followers all over the world.

Ding, China’s first world chess champion, has confronted stress on his kind all yr since profitable the title in 2023.

The Chinese language participant had not received a “traditional” long-format match since January and seemed to be avoiding different high-level competitions.

However he had first match and received the final match towards Dommaraju, suggesting momentum.

Each gamers had two wins every and eight attracts heading into Thursday’s closing match.

After hours of shut play, Ding, on transfer 55, moved his rook to a fatally weak place that gave Dommaraju the chance to capitalize.

Instantly recognizing his mistake, Ding collapsed onto the desk.

“Ding appeared to have a secure probability to push for victory, however as a substitute was liquidated in a pawnless endgame,” Chess.com wrote in its post-match abstract. “It ought to have been drawn, however Ding blundered because the stress mounted.”

From there, it was recreation over. Ding resigned three strikes later.

Dommaraju instantly burst into tears because the room erupted in cheers from spectators.

“I most likely received very emotional as a result of I did not actually count on to win this place,” he was quoted as saying.

At 18, he’s additionally the second Indian participant to change into a world chess champion, after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the many first to reward the mission.

“Historic and exemplary!” he wrote on

The FIDE World Chess Championship has a prize fund of $2.5 million (£1.96 million).