In a thrilling 14-game match played in Singapore on Thursday, Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Chinese defending champion Ding Liren to become the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at the age of 18. In Game 14, Gukesh won 7.5-6.5, securing the title with a spectacular triumph with the black pieces behind the mistake of Ding.
Garry Kasparov, who defeated Anatoly Karpov in 1985 to become the youngest world champion, is four years older than the 18th world champion.
When Ding faltered under pressure, Gukesh emerged victorious in Thursday’s game with the black pieces.
This is a list of every game, along with the scorelines and how each one turned out:
Game 1: Ding Liren took the lead early in the 14-game series by defeating Gukesh in a high-stress opening match. The Indian teenager gave way under Ding’s early pressure during the 42-move altercation.
Game 2: After losing Game 1, Gukesh recovered by holding Ding to a tense draw with black pieces to start the match and move the score to 1.5-0.5 in the Chinese’s favor.
Game 3: Following Ding’s conservative strategy, Gukesh even the score at 1.5-1.5 with his first victory of the series, showcasing improved preparation. Gukesh was obviously more prepared, but Liren’s aptitude for calculations failed him in the game.
Game 4: The match proceeded evenly after a risk-free draw that left both players tied at two points apiece.
Game 5: Gukesh’s perseverance paid off in white pieces draw that kept the score tied at 2.5 points apiece and prepared the ground for the pivotal subsequent rounds.
Game 6: Gukesh held his own with black pieces to keep the score tied at three points each in the sixth game, which ended in another fierce draw.
Game 7: After five hours and twenty-two minutes, a marathon game finished in a stalemate. Gukesh and Ding were both at 3.5 points, and they still needed four more to win the championship.
Game 8: The match remained a strategic standoff as Gukesh held Ding to a sixth straight draw.
Game 9: The fight for the title remained knotted when the ninth game finished in yet another draw, leaving both players on 4.5 points.
Game 10: Gukesh and Ding maintained their close battle as a tie in the tenth round leaving both players with five points apiece.
Game 11: With three games left, Gukesh’s decisive victory in Game 11 gave him a significant 6-5 lead and a huge step toward the World Championship. When Liren exited the game with only seven minutes remaining, it was a blink-and-miss moment; he made a mistake on his 28th turn and resigned right away.
Game 12: After Gukesh momentarily took the lead, Ding rallied to tie the series, won Game 12, and tied the score at 6-6.
Game 13: After 68 moves and with both players tied at 6-6, Gukesh and Ding played out a tense draw, setting up an exciting match finish.
Game 14: In what commentators referred to as a massive upset, Gukesh won the title with a stunning victory in the final game, taking advantage of Ding’s error to win at 7.5 points.
Gukesh’s incredible journey came to a memorable conclusion with a total score of 7.5-6.5, making him the youngest World Chess Champion ever.
