An 18-year-old's masterstroke that made a country look beyond the boundary
In August, the month that honours India's hard-won freedom, the nation often pauses to remember not just its political milestones but also its sporting achievements - the victories that uplifted the spirits of millions. From hockey golds to cricket World Cups, from Olympic champions to para-sport pioneers, these moments tell a parallel story of resilience.
In 2024, yet another chapter was written when an 18-year-old from Chennai amazed the chess world by becoming the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion in history.
Credit: NDTV
Dommaraju Gukesh's rise was shaped in the calm intensity of Chennai, a city already acclaimed as India's chess capital. By the age of seven, he had fallen in love with the sixty-four squares. Five years later, at just 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days old, he became a grandmaster - the youngest Indian ever and the third youngest in the game's history.
His early career was marked by victories: five gold medals at the 2018 Asian Youth Chess Championship, a World Youth Chess Championship title in the under-12 category, and a reputation for meticulous calculation under pressure.
Credit: Indian Express
By 2022, he was the youngest player to beat reigning champion Magnus Carlsen, and in 2023, he became the youngest ever to reach a FIDE rating of 2750. That same year, he ended Viswanathan Anand's 37-year reign as India's top-ranked player.
Gukesh's 2024 campaign was relentless. He won the Candidates Tournament in Toronto, becoming the youngest ever to do so, defeating experienced opponents from around the world. His reward was a 14-game match in Singapore against Ding Liren, the reigning champion.
The match was a tense back-and-forth of skill and nerve. Ding struck first, but Gukesh equalised in the third game. The middle rounds showcased discipline, with neither player giving way. By the 11th game, Gukesh took the lead, only for Ding to fight back in the 12th. The score was level after thirteen games.
Credit: The Gurdian
In the final encounter, playing black, Gukesh navigated a complex middle game where a draw seemed inevitable. Then came the decisive moment: Ding faltered, allowing Gukesh to seize control. Three moves later, the title was his. The final score stood at 7½–6½ - a victory not just of moves, but of temperament.
The win sparked a wave of pride across India, a nation where cricket headlines dominate but where chess has been steadily gaining ground. Public figures, from sports icons to technology leaders, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrated Gukesh's victory. His journey from Chennai classrooms to the top of global chess became a symbol of youthful ambition and disciplined excellence.
Credit: Rediff
In a sport often judged by decades of experience, Gukesh had rewritten the rules in less than two years. His triumph also added a new jewel to India's sporting crown, standing alongside Olympic medals, cricket world titles, and historic hockey golds.
Barely an adult, Gukesh has already achieved what many spend a lifetime chasing. His style — calm under time pressure, precise in calculation, and relentless in pursuit of small advantages — has drawn comparisons to some of the game's greatest. In the 79 years since India's independence, countless athletes have etched their names into the nation's sporting history.
