Layout by: Clarisse Garcia
Published by: Marino Peralta
Date Published: January 13, 2025
Time Published: 9:00 AM
18 for 18th. Chess grandmaster GM Gukesh Dommaraju from India overthrew the defending champion, GM Ding Liren of China, with a final score of 7.5-6.5 in Game 14 of the 2024 FΓ©dΓ©ration Internationale des Γchecs (FIDE) World Championship, becoming the 18th world chess champion at 18 years-old, on December 12.
The Indian prodigy is now hailed as the youngest chess world champion, being 4 years younger than Garry Kasparov, who became a world champion after his triumph versus Anatoly Karpov in 1985.
On the 55th move, Ding blundered in a technical endgame that allowed Gukesh to capitalize on his mistake and take the opportunity to seize the title.
Prior to the 55th move, Ding had 1 rook, 1 bishop, and a pawn in his arsenal; While, Gukesh had 1 rook, 1 bishop, and 2 pawns.
Ding moved his rook to f1; that was the 55th move that allowed Gukesh to take his rook and bounce back as Ding took Gukesh's rook with his king.
Subsequently, they proceeded to trade bishops that gained Gukesh the upper hand as he had 2 pawns, and Ding had only a pawn.
Ding resigned after the bishop exchange and if the game continued, Gukesh would surely promote his pawn into a queen which later result in Ding’s defeat.
Colin McGorthy, a Chess.Com staff stated, "Ding seemed to have a risk-free chance to push for a win but instead liquidated into a pawn-down endgame."
"It should have been drawn, but Ding blundered as the pressure grew," he added.
Both players managed to accumulate 8 draws and 2 wins a piece, that allowed them to have 6.5 points before Game 14.
The scoring system of the tournament is +0.5 on draw games and +1.0 if you win a game; consequently, Ding is aiming for a draw, hoping to survive game 14 and proceed to another match.
The Indian prodigy suddenly became emotional, and the room was filled with people who cheered in triumph.
“I probably got so emotional because I did not really expect to win that position," Gukesh said in the interview.
Gukesh has been on euphoria since the game position before Ding’s reckless inaccuracy is later on to be considered a draw, that's why he did not expect that he was going to win that position.
Gukesh is the 2nd Indian chess world champion, right after five-time chess world champion Viswanathan Anand; who last won in 2012.
With his successful conquest, Gukesh bagged 2.5 million dollars prize money, making history to the world being one of the prominent players in the chess scene.
REFERENCES:
Mao, F. (2024, December 12). Indian teen becomes youngest world chess champion, BBC. com
https://www.google.com/.../news/articles/crl3d5gyxr7o.amp
Inquirer.net. (2024, December 13). India’s Gukesh Dommaraju becomes youngest chess world champion, Inquirer.net.
https://www.google.com/.../indias-gukesh-dommaraju.../amp
McGorthy, C. (2024, December 12). 18-Year-Old Gukesh Becomes Youngest-Ever Undisputed Chess World Champion, Chess.com.
https://www.chess.com/.../fide-world-chess-championship...
