Gukesh, youngest world chess champion
Context
D. Gukesh, the 18-year-old chess prodigy from Chennai, created history by becoming the youngest World Chess Champion by defeating China’s Ding Liren, breaking Garry Kasparov’s decades-long record.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Key Highlights:
- Gukesh defeated defending champion Ding Liren after a nail-biting 58-move game, securing the required 7.5 points to claim the World Chess title.
- It was held in Singapore from November 25 to December 12, 2024.
- This was the first World Championship contested by two Asian players, and Gukesh is only the third Asian, after Viswanathan Anand and Ding, to achieve this feat.
- Chess Olympiad Glory: Earlier, Gukesh played a pivotal role in India’s twin gold victories at the Budapest Chess Olympiad, where he claimed an individual gold on the top board.
About the World Chess Championship:
- History: The first even was recognised in 1886 as a contest between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort.
- Steinitz emerged as the first official World Chess Champion.
- The event is being organized by FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) since 1948.
