The 18-year-old Indian player Dommaraju Gukesh won the final long game of the World Championships this Thursday against Chinese title holder Ding Liren and thus becomes the youngest player to win the most prestigious title in chess. E
While the two players were tied before the 14th game, which seemed to be heading towards a draw, the Indian player took advantage of a blunder from his opponent in the 55th move to take a decisive advantage and force the abandonment shortly after. time later.
The duel in Singapore was indecisive until the end, but the mistakes of Ding, 32, ended up making him lose the title he won in April 2023, a first for a Chinese player. Since this coronation he had played much less and seemed to lose his quality of play.
“When I realized his mistake, it was the best moment of my life,” Gukesh told a press conference. With the black pieces, which play second, the Indian pushed despite an equal game and took advantage of the lack of time for Ding, who was slower to play. At the time of the error, Ding had only ten minutes left on the clock, an hour less than Gukesh.
“My strategy for the match was to push as much as possible, whatever my color,” explained the new world champion. Gukesh did not miss the opportunity to continue his meteoric rise in the world of chess. His designation as challenger thanks to his victory during the Candidates Tournament in April 2024 had already surprised, but he continued to gain momentum, with a great performance during the Chess Olympiad in September, won by India. He is now the fifth player in the world, and the youngest among the top 50.
The second sacred Indian
He also becomes the second Indian to obtain this title after Viswanathan Anand between 2007 and 2013.
“When I was watching the match in 2013, when Anand, at home, lost his title against the Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, I said to myself that it would be so good to be in their place. I wanted to be the one to bring the title back to India. This dream has been the most important thing in my life so far,” explained a very emotional Gukesh, after paying tribute to his opponent.
“He was one of the best players in history for years. He’s an incredible fighter. Seeing him continue to fight despite all the pressure he was under, it showed what a champion he is.”
Previously, Ding had felt “having played [son] best tournament of the year. I could have been better but I was already lucky to survive yesterday,” during the 13th game where he was close to losing. “I have no regrets,” he concluded, ending with a promise to continue playing chess.
Gukesh, fifth player in the world in the points ranking, was the favorite in the duel. Despite a false start with a defeat in the first game, which he had started better, he made up for it by winning the third round.
The world number 1 tired of the extended format.
After pushing several times in vain, he took an advantage by winning the 11th game. But the next day he was surprised and had to give in.
This World Championship will not resolve the questions surrounding the format for obtaining the title managed by the international federation. World number 1, Magnus Carlsen, who won the title five times in a row in 2013 and 2021, returned his crown without fighting, tired of the extended format.
The Norwegian’s level seems well above that offered throughout this World Championship. This time, he mainly played the role of commentator for his chess application, while he is also trying to create new formats to attract more audiences and money to chess.
