Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh on Thursday became the youngest world chess champion at 18 years after beating title-holder Ding Liren of China in the 14th and last game of a roller-coaster showdown that went right down to the wire. Gukesh secured the requisite 7.5 points as against 6.5 of Liren after winning the last classical time control game of the 14-game match that seemed headed for a draw for most part. As title winner, he will get a major share of the USD 2.5 million prize purse.
The reticent teenager grinned widely and raised his arms in celebration after the triumph, a stark contrast from the poker face he usually sports while playing.
Before Gukesh’s feat on Thursday, the legendary Garry Kasparov of Russia was the youngest world champion when he won the title at the age of 22, dethroning 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.
He is the second Indian after the legendary Viswanathan Anand to win the global title. Anand, a five-time world champion, had last held the title in 2013 before going down to Magnus Carlsen.
Gukesh, who won the 14th game against Liren after 58 moves in four hours, is the 18th world chess champion overall.
If Thursday’s game was also drawn, winner was to be decided in shorter duration tie-breaks on Friday.
Gukesh had won the third and 11th rounds before Thursday’s decisive game, while the 32-year-old Liren emerged victorious in the opening and 12th games.
All other games were drawn in the match.
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