Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest-ever world chess champion after beating defending champion China’s Ding Liren in a dramatic turn on Thursday.
Dommaraju, at age 18, is four years younger than Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov was when he won the title in 1985 at age 22.
The Chennai prodigy has long been a superstar in the chess world, having attained the status of chess grandmaster at the age of 12.
But he was seen as the challenger going into the final of the FIDE World Chess Championship match held in Singapore this year.
Playing on black, Dommaraju won the game after an under-pressure Ding made a rare mistake while in a solid position, game commentators observed.
The 18-year-old clinched the title with a final score of 7.5-6.5 – bringing to an end a fortnight where the pair’s games had been closely followed by chess fans worldwide.
Ding had faced pressure over his form all year, ever since winning the 2023 title.
The Chinese player had not won a long-format “classical” game since January and was seen to be avoiding other top-level competitions.
But he had put in a strong opening game and won the second-last match against Dommaraju, suggesting momentum.
Both players had two victories apiece and eight draws going into the final game on Thursday.
After hours of tight play, Ding on move 55 moved his rook to a fatally weak position that gave Dommaraju opportunity to capitalise.
Immediately recognising his mistake Ding slumped on the table.
“Ding seemed to have a risk-free chance to push for a win but instead liquidated into a pawn-down endgame,” Chess.com wrote in its post-game summary. “It should have been drawn, but Ding blundered as the pressure grew.”
It was endgame from there. Ding resigned three moves later.
Dommaraju promptly burst into tears as the room erupted with cheers from spectators.
“I probably got so emotional because I did not really expect to win that position,” he said according to reports.
At age 18, he is only the second Indian player to become world chess champion, after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi was among the first public figures showering praise.
“Historic and exemplary!” he wrote on X. “Congratulations to Gukesh D on his remarkable accomplishment. This is the result of his unparalleled talent, hard work and unwavering determination.”
The FIDE World Chess Championship carries a $2.5m (£1.96m) prize fund.
