At just 18 years old, Gukesh is now the 18th world chess champion, surpassing Garry Kasparov, who held the record as the youngest champion since 1985 when he defeated Anatoly Karpov at the age of 22.
In the decisive game, Gukesh, playing with the black pieces, capitalized on a blunder by Ding, who faltered under pressure in what was considered a favorable position. The win gave Gukesh a 7.5-6.5 victory in the match, sealing his historic triumph.
The 14-round match, part of a long-format “classical” event, carried a prize fund of $2.5 million. Gukesh had earned his spot in the final by winning the Candidates tournament in April.
Magnus Carlsen, the world number one, had been reigning champion since 2013 but decided to step down in 2022, citing a lack of motivation to defend his title.
Swiss
