Fri Dec 13 01:47:00 UTC 2024: ## Indian Prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju Crowned Youngest Chess World Champion

**Singapore** – Eighteen-year-old Indian chess grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju has made history, defeating China’s Ding Liren to become the youngest world chess champion ever. The thrilling victory, secured Thursday in Singapore during the 14th game of the 2024 FIDE World Championship, saw Dommaraju overcome a seemingly even match poised for a draw.

According to FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, the game featured near-perfect accuracy from both players until Ding Liren, in an attempt to force a draw, made a critical error – sacrificing a rook. “I was totally in shock when I realized I made the blunder,” admitted Liren in a post-game press conference. Despite the loss, Liren praised his own performance, stating, “I think I played maybe my best tournament of the year.”

Dommaraju, visibly emotional after the win, described his disbelief at Liren’s crucial mistake. “Since I started playing chess… I’ve been dreaming about living this moment for more than 10 years,” he said. He also expressed deep respect for his opponent, calling Liren a legend and highlighting his resilience throughout the championship.

Dommaraju’s triumph breaks the record previously held by Garry Kasparov, who became world champion in 1985 at age 22. The young Indian star’s victory marks a significant moment for Indian chess and cements his place as one of the sport’s rising stars.

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