Fri Dec 13 10:31:22 UTC 2024: ## Gukesh Crowned Youngest World Chess Champion: Confidence and Resilience Key to Victory
**Hyderabad, December 13, 2024** – D. Gukesh has made history, becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion after a thrilling victory over China’s Ding Liren. The 17-year-old’s triumph has been hailed as a monumental achievement for Indian chess.
Leading Indian chess players lauded Gukesh’s unwavering confidence and remarkable ability to fight back from difficult positions as key factors in his win. Former women’s World rapid chess champion Koneru Humpy highlighted his self-belief, noting that even when facing seemingly insurmountable odds, Gukesh consistently found a way to turn the tables. She described the final game as a “nervous breakdown” for Ding, who struggled in a basic endgame.
Grandmaster Harika, a member of India’s gold-medal-winning Olympiad women’s team, emphasized the beauty of the final moments and the significant impact Gukesh’s victory will have on Indian chess. She also expressed her happiness for Gukesh’s family, acknowledging the sacrifices they made to support his career.
Grandmaster P. Harikrishna attributed Gukesh’s success to his precise calculations and relentless determination. He drew parallels to Viswanathan Anand’s 2010 victory, praising Gukesh’s incredible comeback after losing the first game.
Gukesh’s victory follows India’s “golden double” at the Chess Olympiad, cementing India’s position as a global chess powerhouse. The young champion’s achievement is expected to inspire a new generation of Indian chess players.
First Piper 