<p>Bengaluru: The prodigious 18-year-old <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/d-gukesh">D Gukesh</a> etched his name into the annals of chess history on Thursday when he dethroned China's Ding Liren to become the youngest-ever world chess champion in Singapore.</p><p>Such was the enormity of the achievement -- Gukesh is the second world champion from India after the legendary Viswanathan Anand, the normally poker-faced youngster broke down into tears after defeating Liren in the concluding Game 14 before looking skywards to thank the Almighty.</p>.Magnificent year turns magical .<p>Although Gukesh was tipped as the favourite to annex the crown from Liren considering the Chinese superstar's inconsistent form over the recent months, the World Championship in Singapore saw the Indian go through a roller-coaster ride that had the chess fraternity eating out of its hands.</p><p>The 32-year-old Liren showed that form is temporary and class is permanent when he made a blazing start to the tournament by winning the opening game against a nervous and erratic Gukesh.</p><p>That instantly hit the critics and Gukesh hard but the Indian, one of the grittiest but affable players on the circuit, hit back by winning Game 3 to level the scores at 1.5-1.5. What then followed was an intense attritional war between two protagonists, who share a great respect between them.</p><p>They traded measured punches, softening each other up in a slow-burning epic but neither took the gamble to go for broke, given what was at stake. So they ended up playing seven consecutive draws before Gukesh upped the ante towards the finish line.</p><p>He produced a brilliant performance to win Game 11 and take a crucial 6-5 lead with three matches left. Many felt the Indian had one hand on the coveted trophy but champions rarely perish without a fight and Liren levelled the proceedings (6-6) by winning Game 12.</p><p>Gukesh couldn't capitalise on his chances in Game 13 -- his last with white pieces in the classical time format -- as Liren forced a draw. The Chinese appeared to be taking Game 14 also to a truce and into a tiebreak on Friday which many felt he had the upper hand considering his experience and proficiency.</p><p>It was not to be as a tiring Liren erred towards the closing stages, and shrewd Gukesh pulled off a stunning coup to rise to the top of the chess world.</p><p><strong>Youngest world champions</strong> </p><p>D Gukesh: 18 years, 8 months, 14 days - December 12, 2024</p><p>Garry Kasparov: 22 years, 6 months, 27 days - November 9, 1985</p><p>Magnus Carlsen: 22 years, 11 months, 24 days - November 23, 2013.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The prodigious 18-year-old <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/d-gukesh">D Gukesh</a> etched his name into the annals of chess history on Thursday when he dethroned China's Ding Liren to become the youngest-ever world chess champion in Singapore.</p><p>Such was the enormity of the achievement -- Gukesh is the second world champion from India after the legendary Viswanathan Anand, the normally poker-faced youngster broke down into tears after defeating Liren in the concluding Game 14 before looking skywards to thank the Almighty.</p>.Magnificent year turns magical .<p>Although Gukesh was tipped as the favourite to annex the crown from Liren considering the Chinese superstar's inconsistent form over the recent months, the World Championship in Singapore saw the Indian go through a roller-coaster ride that had the chess fraternity eating out of its hands.</p><p>The 32-year-old Liren showed that form is temporary and class is permanent when he made a blazing start to the tournament by winning the opening game against a nervous and erratic Gukesh.</p><p>That instantly hit the critics and Gukesh hard but the Indian, one of the grittiest but affable players on the circuit, hit back by winning Game 3 to level the scores at 1.5-1.5. What then followed was an intense attritional war between two protagonists, who share a great respect between them.</p><p>They traded measured punches, softening each other up in a slow-burning epic but neither took the gamble to go for broke, given what was at stake. So they ended up playing seven consecutive draws before Gukesh upped the ante towards the finish line.</p><p>He produced a brilliant performance to win Game 11 and take a crucial 6-5 lead with three matches left. Many felt the Indian had one hand on the coveted trophy but champions rarely perish without a fight and Liren levelled the proceedings (6-6) by winning Game 12.</p><p>Gukesh couldn't capitalise on his chances in Game 13 -- his last with white pieces in the classical time format -- as Liren forced a draw. The Chinese appeared to be taking Game 14 also to a truce and into a tiebreak on Friday which many felt he had the upper hand considering his experience and proficiency.</p><p>It was not to be as a tiring Liren erred towards the closing stages, and shrewd Gukesh pulled off a stunning coup to rise to the top of the chess world.</p><p><strong>Youngest world champions</strong> </p><p>D Gukesh: 18 years, 8 months, 14 days - December 12, 2024</p><p>Garry Kasparov: 22 years, 6 months, 27 days - November 9, 1985</p><p>Magnus Carlsen: 22 years, 11 months, 24 days - November 23, 2013.</p>