India’s D Gukesh became the youngest-ever world champion when the 18-year-old defeated reigning champions from China, Ding Liren, on Thursday at the World Chess Championship 2024, which was held in Singapore. Gukesh defeated Liren in the 14th and last game of a thrilling showdown to claim the world title.
Gukesh secured the requisite 7.5 points as against 6.5 of Liren after winning the last classical time control game of the 14-game match that seemed headed for a draw for most part.
Before Gukesh’s feat on Thursday, the legendary Garry Kasparov of Russia was the youngest world chess champion when he won the title at the age of 22, dethroning Anatoly Karpov in 1985.
Gukesh had entered the match as the youngest ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. He is the second Indian after the legendary Viswanathan Anand to win the global title. Anand, a five-time world champion, had last won the crown in 2013.
Soon after the win, tears of joys flowed down Gukesh’s eyes.
“I’ve been dreaming about this moment for 10 years! Every chess player wants to experience this. I am living my dreams. Thanks to God first of all,” Gukesh said after his win. “I got emotional becuase I wasn’t expecting to win from that position. I was going to press. But I was like let’s focus on tie-breaks. But when I saw the blunder, I came to realise that I had achieved my dream,” he added.
The Indian youngster also added the contribution of his trainer and Paddy Upton in the lead up to the competition. “Gayo was my trainer for the past two years. Paddy Upton has been a huge support for me in preparation to World Chess championship, although he is not part of my team. Radosław Wojtaszek is there. Pentala Harikrishna is also there,” he added.
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
