World Chess Championship: India’s 18-year-old grandmaster D. Gukesh has scripted history as he has become the youngest world chess champion. He has achieved this magnificent feat by beating China’s Ding Liren in the 14th and final match of the championship clash.

The Indian Grandmaster has secured 7.5 points against Ding’s 6.5. Gukesh managed to take the throne with a win in the last-classical time control game. The game was heading towards a draw during the match. By securing this achievement, the previous record set by Russian chess legend Garry Kasparov has been broken, who clinched the title at the age of 22 in the year 1985 by defeating Anatoly Karpov. He is now the second Indian to own this global title after the legendary Vishwanathan Anand, who has won the championship five times.

‘’I was dreaming of this moment for the last ten years. Happy that I realised this dream,’’ Gukesh stated to PTI after his phenomenal triumph in the World Chess Championship.

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Gukesh has already attracted much attention by becoming the youngest player in the world chess crown by conquering the prestigious Candidates Tournament this year.

As the champion, he will take home the lion’s share of the $2.5 million prize fund. The Chennai-born child prodigy stated, ‘’ I got a little emotional because I was not expecting to win. But then I got a chance to hold on.’’ ‘’Every chess player wishes to live this dream. I am living my dream,’’ Gukesh added.

Scorecard

The teen won the third, 11th, and final games in the 14-match game, while on the other hand, his counterpart Liren bagged the first and 12th rounds. All the remaining matches were declared as a draw. In this match, Gukesh in total made 58 moves and the match went on for four hours in total.

Gukesh is usually known for his calm demeanor whenever his on board but after winning the world title the teenager celebrated the moment by raising his hand and with a wide smile on his face. With this victory, Gukesh became the 18th world champion to etch his name among the greatest of all the game.

(With inputs from PTI)