Gukesh Dommaraju Makes History as the Youngest Chess World Champion.
Gukesh Dommaraju, the Indian chess prodigy, has cemented his place in history by becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion. Born on May 29, 2006, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Gukesh exhibited a profound interest in chess from a very young age, showcasing his immense talent and passion for the game.
Early Journey
Gukesh’s chess journey began in 2013 with structured one-hour sessions held thrice weekly. Despite his humble beginnings, he demonstrated exceptional promise early on. His father, an ENT surgeon, quit his job to accompany Gukesh to tournaments, while his mother, a microbiologist, became the sole breadwinner of the family during challenging financial times. Support from family, friends, and sponsors helped ease their struggles, enabling Gukesh to focus on honing his craft.
The robust Indian chess ecosystem also played a pivotal role in shaping Gukesh’s career during his school years, nurturing his talent and guiding him toward excellence.
Career
Gukesh’s professional career took off in 2015 when he won the Asian School Chess Championship. His talent was further highlighted in 2018 when he clinched the World Youth Chess Championship (Under-12 category). That same year, he achieved an impressive feat by winning five gold medals at the Asian Youth Championships in Thailand across multiple formats, including Individual Rapid, Individual Blitz, and Classical Chess, as well as team events.
On January 15, 2019, at the age of 12 years, Gukesh became the second-youngest Grandmaster in history, surpassed only by Sergey Karjakin. This record was later broken by Abhimanyu Mishra by a narrow margin of 12 days.
In August 2022, Gukesh delivered a phenomenal performance at the 44th Chess Olympiad. He began with a perfect 8/8 score, which included a victory against the United States’ top player, Fabiano Caruana. He finished the tournament with 9/11, earning a gold medal on Board 1, and played a crucial role in helping the India-2 team secure the third position.
Youngest World Champion
Gukesh’s ultimate dream was to become the youngest World Chess Champion. On December 12, 2024, in the 18th World Chess Championship, he achieved his lifelong goal by defeating reigning champion Ding Liren. With this victory, Gukesh not only claimed the championship title but also made history as the youngest player to achieve this remarkable feat.
The 18th World Champion, 🇮🇳 Gukesh D, with a never-ending line of fans waiting for his autograph. 🖊️✨#DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/4Bpi1FlLvG
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 13, 2024