D. Gukesh is the first player among young Indian chess talents to reach the pinnacle.
Eighteen-year-old D. Gukesh wrote his name in chess history. Gukesh became the youngest world chess champion. Gukesh defeated the current champion Ding Liren of China in a tremendous final match. This match took place on 12 December 2024 in Singapore. Gukesh is the second Indian to win this prestigious title after the legendary Viswanathan Anand. This was a huge achievement for him. A new era in India has begun.
Winning Moment in The Championship
The final match between D. Gukesh and Ding was quite intense. The score was 6.5-6.5 and everything depended on the last game. Both players played very well. In the endgame, there were rucks, bishops, and pawns. Ding, who was playing with the white pieces.
Ding’s style of play seemed to suggest that the match was heading towards a draw. Then on the 53rd move, he made a big mistake. Gukesh took advantage of it and won the match. By winning he became the chess champion. Gukesh became very emotional after the victory.
He hugged his father who was there for him. After winning, he also honored Ding. Gukesh rearranged the pieces. He clapped for them from his side. Fans and the world liked his sportsmanship very much.
The Road to Glory
Gukesh Dommaraju was born on 29 May 2006. He started playing games at the age of 7. He impressed everyone very soon with his chess skills. He became the youngest player to cross the 2750 Elo rating. He also helped India win gold in Olympiad. Win this year’s Candidates Tournament against Ding. He also got a chance to challenge for the world chess title.
His journey progressed a lot with the support of the legendary Viswanathan Anand and Westbridge Anand Chess Academy (WASA). Anand is 5-time world chess champion and he mentored Gukesh. Anand had shared an old photo. It was written in the shared photo, “The boy who would be king.” This mentorship helped him a lot in his journey.
The Match Highlights
The match with Ding was very intense. Ding is known for his calm nature. Ding wanted to play the match in fast formats like rapid and blitz. Because he is very good in those formats. But Gukesh showed his strong strategy. Gukesh always tried to find small advantages in equal positions.
In Game 4, Gukesh played aggressively and secured a crucial win. This tied the score, as Ding won the first game. Both of them later tested each other and got some draws. Gukesh made a tremendous move in Game 11 to take the lead. Ding made an amazing comeback in Game 12. Gukesh won this match in his last move with his smart strategy and focus.
A New Era for India
This victory is a new beginning for Indian chess. He is part of a talented generation. There are many young players like Arjun Erigaisi and R. Praggnanandhaa. They are all pushing each other to achieve excellence at the world level. All this together is bringing India to a strong position in world chess.
Felt very proud of Anand Gukesh’s jet. He said this is a “heralding moment” for the next generation of chess stars. And the best thing is that Gukesh broke a 38-year-old record. This record was earlier in the name of Garry Kasparov. He became World Chess Champion in 1985 at the age of just 22.
Global Recognition and Future Aspirations
Gukesh’s game has attracted everyone’s attention in the chess world. Judit Polgar is the greatest female player in Chess. She praised Gukesh’s patience in the final match. People are quite impressed with his coolness and ability to make perfect moves when needed.
This victory is a big moment but Gukesh’s journey has now started. His next challenge will be to show dominance like Magnus Carlsen. Gukesh’s victory is not just proof of his being genius. His new journey also inspires new players, especially in India.
The Youngest King – Conclusion
Gukesh reached the top of the World at the age of 18. It is Amazing for him. All this was possible with the help of his talent, hard work, and mentors like Vishwanathan Anand. This victory of Gukesh is making India a chess powerhouse. This is just the beginning and is an inspiration for all of us. He wants to become stronger in chess. His journey shows that with dedication and a never-say-die attitude, everything is possible.
Gukesh is a true role model for us.
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