Gukesh Dommaraju, an 18-year-old chess player from India, dethroned defending champion Ding Liren on December 12 to become the 2024 World Chess Champion. The match was decided in the final classical game, where Gukesh clinched victory with a score of 7.5-6.5, avoiding the need for a rapid tiebreak.
This win makes Gukesh the youngest World Chess Champion in history, breaking Garry Kasparov’s record set at age 22 in 1985.
A Mistake Changes Everything
The decisive game saw Ding, playing as White, hold his ground until move 55. But then came a critical error—55.Rf2. Gukesh quickly spotted his opportunity, exchanged rooks, and forced a bishop trade that left Ding with no pieces to defend against Gukesh’s advancing pawns. The resignation was straightforward from there.
Ding, visibly upset, realized the magnitude of his mistake almost immediately. He spent a few moments with his head in his hands before making his final move and resigning after 59 moves.
The move 55.Rf2, marked as a blunder by chess engines, gave Gukesh a clear path to victory. Had Ding chosen the suggested move, 55.Ra4, he could have kept the game balanced and possibly pushed for a draw, which would have led to a rapid tiebreak where Ding was considered the favorite.
A Historic Achievement
With this win, Gukesh became the second Indian player to claim the World Chess Champion title, following Viswanathan Anand, who reigned from 2007 to 2013. Gukesh’s journey to the top wasn’t easy. He surpassed elite players like Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Ian Nepomniachtchi during the 2024 Candidates Tournament.
In the 17-day championship match, Gukesh won three games, drew nine, and lost two. Along with the title, he took home a prize of $1.35 million, while Ding received $1.15 million as the runner-up.
A Journey of Dedication and Sacrifice
Gukesh’s parents, Dr. Rajini Kanth and Dr. Padma, funded his chess career almost entirely from their own income during his formative years, even taking on loans to cover the costs of tournaments and training.
Until Gukesh reached a 2300 rating in 2017, he primarily competed in tournaments within India due to financial constraints. Recognizing the necessity of international exposure to achieve his goals, the family made bold decisions to invest heavily in his career. Between 2017 and early 2019, they spent nearly $25,000–$30,000 annually on travel, accommodation, and tournament entry fees. Their gamble paid off as Gukesh secured all his International Master (IM) and Grandmaster (GM) norms within just 15 months, becoming the second-youngest GM in history in January 2019.
“We took some major decisions around early 2017 to risk our finances and take loans for a year or two to see what he was capable of and then decide further. Luckily, within 15 months of that decision, he scored all three IM norms as well as three GM norms.”
Gukesh’s father, Dr. Rajini Kanth said to Attacking Chess in March 2022.
The Youngest King of Chess
At just 18, Gukesh is now the youngest World Chess Champion in the 138-year history of the title. However, some may argue that the “King of Chess” title remains unofficially with Magnus Carlsen, who vacated the championship two years ago.
For now, Gukesh holds the crown and will defend it in 2026, facing the winner of the next Candidates Tournament.
History was made, a record was broken, and a new chess champion was crowned. Gukesh Dommaraju’s reign has only just begun.
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300, in both blitz and bullet.