Gukesh Dommaraju

The youngest World Chess Champion in history. Challenged Ding Liren at 18 and won 7.5-6.5, surpassing Kasparov's record and completing India's rise to chess superpower status.

From Challenger to Champion

Gukesh Dommaraju was born on May 29, 2006, in Chennai, India, the heartland of Indian chess. He won the 2024 Candidates Tournament at 17, becoming the youngest Candidates winner ever. His World Championship match against Ding Liren in Singapore was a tense, closely fought affair. Ding, who had struggled with form since winning the title in 2023, was vulnerable but showed his class in several games.

The turning point came in Game 14, the final classical game. Ding, playing with white, built a commanding position but then blundered in time pressure, allowing Gukesh to convert with precise technique. The final score of 7.5-6.5 made Gukesh the 18th undisputed World Chess Champion and the youngest in history, breaking Kasparov's record by over four years.

India's Crown

Gukesh's victory was the culmination of India's chess revolution, which began with Anand's first World Championship in 2000. In the 24 years since, India had transformed from a chess backwater into a superpower with multiple players in the world top 20. Gukesh, still a teenager, represents not just India's present but its future.

Note: Gukesh is now listed as the current World Champion. His page here documents his journey from challenger to champion.