India's D Gukesh has defeated Ding Liren of China in the 14th round of the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 to become the youngest world champion. He is only the second world champion from India after five-time winner Vishwanathan Anand. (Match Blog | More Sports News)

With the title, the 18-year-old from Chennai has gone past Garry Kasparov, who previously held the record. Gukesh made it to the  World Championship after winning the Candidates tournament.

D Gukesh - 18 year 8 months 14 day - December 12, 2024

Garry Kasparov - 22 years 6 months 27 days - November 9, 1985

Magnus Carlsen - 22 years 11 months 24 days - November 23, 2013

The Indian Grand Master started off on a slow note in the Singapore showdown after losing the opening round.

Gukesh bounced back and was back on level terms in the third round of the contest. he took the lead in the 11th round of the 14-game affair, but Ding fought back in the 12th.

Anand was crowned champion, five times in his career - 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012.

"I was dreaming this moment for the last 10 years. I am happy that I realised the dream (and made it) into reality," said Gukesh after sealing the historic win in the 14th round after 58 moves in four hours.

The moves:

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 e6 5.0–0 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nge7 7.c4 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qd1 d4 10.e3 Bc5 11.exd4 Bxd4 12.Nc3 0–0 13.Nb5 Bb6 14.b3 a6 15.Nc3 Bd4 16.Bb2 e5 17.Qd2 Be6 18.Nd5 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.Nf4 exf4 21.Bxc6 Bxb2 22.Qxb2 Rb8 23.Rfd1 Qb6 24.Bf3 fxg3 25.hxg3 b4 26.a4 bxa3 27.Rxa3 g6 28.Qd4 Qb5 29.b4 Qxb4 30.Qxb4 Rxb4 31.Ra8 Rxa8 32.Bxa8 g5 33.Bd5 Bf5 34.Rc1 Kg7 35.Rc7 Bg6 36.Rc4 Rb1+ 37.Kg2 Re1 38.Rb4 h5 39.Ra4 Re5 40.Bf3 Kh6 41.Kg1 Re6 42.Rc4 g4 43.Bd5 Rd6 44.Bb7 Kg5 45.f3 f5 46.fxg4 hxg4 47.Rb4 Bf7 48.Kf2 Rd2+ 49.Kg1 Kf6 50.Rb6+ Kg5 51.Rb4 Be6 52.Ra4 Rb2 53.Ba8 Kf6 54.Rf4 Ke5 55.Rf2 Rxf2 56.Kxf2 Bd5 57.Bxd5 Kxd5 58.Ke3 Ke5 white resigned.

"I got a bit emotional because I was not expecting to win. But then I got a chance to press on," he added.

Gukesh was all smiles and raised his arms in joy and celebration after the win - a total contract from his poker face during the game.

Russia's Garry Kasparov was the youngest before Gukesh, who dethroned Anatoly Karpov in 1985.

Gukesh had entered the match as the youngest ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year.

Gukesh, born on May 29, also scripted history by becoming the youngest to achieve a FIDE rating of 2750, surpassing Anand.

The next FIDE World Chess Championship will be held in Galipoli, Italy, and will get underway on October 20.

With the rise of serious talent and with chess getting more recognition, an all-Indian World Championship final is truly on the cards with Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa also chasing greatness.

And as the saying goes, "game recognises game."

The total prize money for the World Chess Championship is USD 2.5 million, while the candidates earned USD 200,000 (around INR 1.68 crore) for every game they won.