Thu Dec 12 20:46:18 UTC 2024: ## Indian Chess Prodigy Gukesh Becomes Youngest World Champion
**Singapore, December 12, 2024** – Eighteen-year-old Indian chess grandmaster D. Gukesh has etched his name in history, becoming the youngest-ever world chess champion. He defeated reigning champion Ding Liren of China in the final game of the FIDE World Chess Championship in Singapore.
Gukesh’s victory, achieved after 58 moves, secured him a 7.5-point tally, the amount needed to win the title. A crucial error by Ding Liren on move 55 swung the game in Gukesh’s favor, preventing a tie-breaker that had been scheduled for Friday.
This historic win marks the first World Chess Championship match between two Asian countries, India and China, and only the third time an Asian player has claimed the title. Gukesh follows in the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand and Ding Liren. He is also only the 18th undisputed world champion in history.
Gukesh’s journey to the championship was not without its challenges. He lost the first game but ultimately rallied, winning key matches and drawing several others to reach the final game. His performance further solidified India’s dominance in the chess world, following the country’s recent double gold medal win at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Gukesh himself won individual gold in the Olympiad, playing on the top board. This victory builds on his success in the Candidates tournament earlier this year in Toronto which qualified him for the championship.
The win marks a significant moment for Indian chess, showcasing the country’s rising talent and global prowess in the sport.
First Piper 