India's Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, becomes youngest-ever world chess champion
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China's chess grandmaster Ding Liren (left) and India's grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju compete in game 14 of the 2024 FIDE World Championship in Singapore on Thursday, Dec. 12. Photo: Simon Lim/AFP via Getty Images
Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has made chess history by becoming the youngest world champion after his surprise win over the defending champion, China's Ding Liren, on Thursday in Singapore.
The big picture: The 18-year-old from the southeast Indian city of Chennai's FIDE World Chess Championship win means he's surpassed Garry Kasparov's record set in 1985, when the Russian grandmaster won the title at age 22.
- Dommaraju won the title in 58 moves with a final score of 7.5 to 6.5, per the International Chess Federation.
What they're saying: "I probably got so emotional because I did not really expect to win that position," said Dommaraju, who cried as he hugged his father following his victory, at a news conference on Thursday. "I know I'm not going to sleep tonight."
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Dommaraju for his historic, "exemplary" and "remarkable accomplishment."
- Modi added on X: "His triumph has not only etched his name in the annals of chess history but has also inspired millions of young minds to dream big and pursue excellence."
