D Gukesh, the 18-year-old chess prodigy, has etched his name in history by winning the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024, defeating reigning champion Ding Liren in a dramatic 14th game to clinch the title.
With this historic victory, Gukesh becomes the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, surpassing the record set by Garry Kasparov in 1985 at the age of 22 years, 6 months, and 27 days. The achievement also makes him the second Indian to win the World Chess Championship, following in the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand.
The closely fought contest was tied at 6.5-6.5 after 13 games, with Ding Liren holding a slight psychological edge due to his experience. However, Gukesh held his nerve in the final game, outmaneuvering the seasoned champion to secure a 7.5-6.5 victory in one of the most monumental moments in chess history.