NEW DELHI: The final match of the World Chess Championship between 18-year-old Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh and reigning champion Ding Liren witnessed a dramatic culmination of their gripping 14-game series in Singapore.
The 14th game on Thursday, a highly anticipated battle, swung decisively in Gukesh’s favour after a critical blunder by Ding Liren, securing Gukesh’s historic triumph as the youngest world chess champion.
The game began in a Nimzo-Indian structure, with both players opting for solid development.
By the middlegame, Gukesh managed to create counterplay with his queenside pawns, especially with the brilliant 26…bxa3(!), which gave him a dangerous passed pawn.
The position remained balanced until move 58, when Ding, under time pressure, miscalculated in a tense endgame. Ding’s crucial mistake occurred as he tried to activate his king and rooks in an effort to push for a draw.
As It Happened: D Gukesh vs Ding Liren Game 14
However, his endgame manoeuvre inadvertently allowed Gukesh to trade down into a favorable position where his active pieces and superior pawn structure proved decisive.
Gukesh skillfully exploited this error, turning what seemed like a drawn endgame into a victory.
The final result was sealed after four hours of intense play.
Gukesh’s strategy of relentless pressure throughout the match, coupled with his ability to capitalize on Ding’s momentary lapse, proved to be the winning formula.
With a score of 7.5–6.5, Gukesh dethroned Ding and became the 18th World Chess Champion.
The victory not only broke Garry Kasparov’s long-standing record as the youngest champion, but it also marked a new era for Indian chess. Subsequently, Gukesh joins the legendary Viswanathan Anand as the second Indian to claim the title.
Reflecting on the win, Gukesh shared, “I was dreaming this moment for the last 10 years. I am happy that I realised the dream (and made it) into reality.”