Gukesh became the youngest World Champion in history after beating Ding Liren over 14 games in the World Chess Championship in Singapore.
D Gukesh, for the first time in nearly three weeks acted like a teenager. The teenager from Chennai, overwhelmed by the weight and intensity of the moment began to cry at the chessboard.
You don't become a world champion every day. You don't become the youngest World Champion in history every day. Gukesh did just that after beating Ding Liren over 14 games in the World Chess Championship in Singapore.
The succession of world chess champs, which began in 1886 with 17 men ascending to the throne, has never included a teenager.
Garry Kasparov, who was 22 years old, six months, and 27 days, before Gukesh became the youngest world champion, held that title. Magnus Carlsen was 22 years old, 11 months, and 24 days in 2013 when he became the first world champion.
Gukesh described the moment as "probably the best of my life" when his opponent made a mistake in the 55th game move on Thursday. This mistake opened the way for his ascent. He said, "I have dreamed about this moment since I began playing chess. I've been living it for more than ten years."
It looked as if the game was going to end in a tie. Ding's final line of defense was wiped out by a miscalculated rook push (55.Rf2), resulting in an inevitable checkmate. Ding lost the game, match, and crown because of a mistimed move.
At that point, both players had fought for more than four hours. Gukesh's slight advantage was due to the fact that he had three pawns compared to Ding’s two. He also had an extra hour of savings than his opponent. Gukesh had little to play for, other than hope. The 55th move changed all that.
Gukesh's face, which was previously inscrutable, erupted into a smile when he spotted the move.
Ding has been sneaking glances at Gukesh since the championship started on November 25. He was trying to read his emotions. Gukesh gave Ding little, and certainly no expressions that revealed his thoughts.
All of it came out after he won the world championship. Even empathy.
"I want to start by talking about my opponent before I do anything else." Ding Liren, we all know him. It is clear that he has been one the greatest players of all time for many years. The pressure he was under and the fight he put up at the world championship shows how true a champion he really is. Gukesh: "I'm sorry for Ding, his team and myself. I want to thank him for the show he put on."
Ding spoke earlier about his depression and lack of confidence on the board.
Gukesh stated that "no matter what anyone says about Ding, he is a true world champion." He was referring to the predictions of former world champions such as Magnus Carlsen, and elite Grandmasters such as Hikaru Nakamura, that the Indian would commit a "massacre", or that the Chinese GM's game would collapse.
Ding was not defeated, but did make three errors that led to three losses. The outgoing world champion also showed the same graciousness in defeat. It's only fair that I lose, considering my lucky escape from yesterday's match. Ding left the press conference saying, "I have no regrets."
Gukesh applauded Ding as he walked away, and only sat down after the Chinese left. He was not going to let his manners slip just because he won.
Gukesh waited at the chessboard for about 30 minutes after his opponent gave up, and he rearranged the board, even though he was emotional.
Gukesh won because he was able to fight. Some grandmasters might have taken a draw and fought the tie tomorrow.
Gukesh, who was competing in the World Chess Championships 2024, was unwilling to accept a draw for the third consecutive time, even though a victory was unlikely. This strategy failed to work in two previous games. It made him world champion on Thursday.
Since a while, the world of chess has been preparing for an era of Indian chess prodigies. From the Candidates tournament this year where an unprecedented number Indian players qualified, to the two gold medals won by the Indian teams in the Budapest Chess Olympiad. Kasparov had called it "Indian earthquake" in chess.
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