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- D Gukesh vs Ding Liren, World Chess Championship 2024, Game 14 Highlights: Gukesh beats Ding, becomes youngest world champion
D Gukesh vs Ding Liren, World Chess Championship 2024, Game 14 Highlights: Gukesh beats Ding, becomes youngest world champion
18-year-old Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Ding Liren to become the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion. His victory in Singapore concluded with a score of 7.5–6.5. Gukesh's aggressive strategy paid off, securing his place in history and inspiring a new generation of chess players in India. Prime Minister Modi and President Murmu lauded his historic achievement.
18-year-old Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh made history on Thursday, becoming the youngest-ever World Chess champion. He defeated China's Ding Liren in a thrilling final match in Singapore, leading to emotional reaction from him and celebrations in India. Gukesh won three games to Liren's two across 14 played.
The toughest challenge was losing the first game. It was humiliating. I needed some mental toughness at that moment. I had to endure these things which were tough. But I am happy it worked out well.
D Gukesh
It was looking like a draw. With my bishop on, I thought there was a lot of stuff that could go wrong. My whole strategy with the match was to push as much as possible. I was confident about my strategy and approach. It was good that way. And since I won, I think it was a good strategy.
D Gukesh
There are many sports where athletes work with mental and physical trainers. It makes sense in chess (to work with a mental trainer).
D Gukesh on Paddy Upton
I have two years for that, I want to just enjoy the moment.
D Gukesh on his potential opponent in World Chess Championship 2026
Gayo (Grzegorz Gajewski) was my trainer for the past two years. Paddy Upton has been a huge support for me in preparation to the World Chess championship, although he is not part of my team. Radosław Wojtaszek is there. Pentala Harikrishna is also there. Vincent Keymer, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and Jan Klimkowski are others in my team
D Gukesh
We were both crying. Probably her first word was congratulations.
D Gukesh
I got emotional becuase I wasn't expecting to win from that position. I was going to press. But I was like let's focus on tie-breaks. But when I saw the blunder, I came to realise that I had achieved my dream.
D Gukesh
I was totally in shock when I realized I made a blunder
Ding Liren
I've been dreaming about this moment for 10 years!
D Gukesh
I would like to thank each and every one of my team. But I will have to prepare my speech first (laughs)
D Gukesh
Every chess player wants to experience this. I am living my dreams. Thanks to God first of all.
D Gukesh
We all know who Ding is. He has been one of the best players in the history. We have seen how much pressure he has faced and it shows who true champion is. For me, he is a real world champion.
D Gukesh on Ding Liren
When I realized (Ding's blunder), it was best moment of my life.
D Gukesh
Thank you, I will continue to play
Ding Liren's message for the fans
I think I played my best tournament here. I could have been better, but I have no regrets.
Ding Liren
- Nf3 d5
- g3 c5
- Bg2 Nc6
- d4 e6
- O-O cxd4
- Nxd4 Nge7
- c4 Nxd4
- Qxd4 Nc6
- Qd1 d4
- e3 bc5
- exd4 Bxd4
- Nc3 O-O
- Nb5 Bb6
- b3 a6
- Nc3 Bd4
- Bb2 e5
- Qd2 Be6
- Nd5 b5
- cxb5 axb5
- Nf4 exf4
- Bxc4 Bxb2
- Qxb2 Rb8
- Rfd1 Qb6
- Bf3 fxg3
- hxg3 b4
- a4 bxa3(!)
- Rxa3 g6
- Qd4 Qb5
- b4 Qxb4
- Qxb4 Rxb4
- Ra8 Rxa8
- Bxa8 g5
- Bd5 Bf5
- Rc1 Qg7
- Rc7 Bg6
- Rc4 Rb1+
- Kg2 Re1
- Rb4 h5
- Ra4 Re5
- Bf3 Kh6
- Kg1 Re6
- Rc4 g4
- Bd5 Rd6
- Bb7 Kg5
- f3 f5
- fxg4 hxg4
- Rb4 Bf7
- Kf2 Rd2+
- Kg1 Kf6
- Rb6+ Kg5
- Rb4 Be6
- Ra4 Rb2
- Ba8 Kf6
- Rf4 Ke5
- Rf2 Rxf2
- Kxf2 Bd5
- Bxd5 Kxd5
- Ke3 Ke5
I have flown in to support Gukesh in the final two games. We haven’t discussed anything special for this decisive game – he has a plan for the fourteen games, and he will stick to it.
Paddy Upton (Gukesh’s performance coach, Leadership coach, practical speaker, mental game coach, and university professor.)
- Nf3 d5
- g3 c5
- Bg2 Nc6
- d4 e6
- O-O cxd4
- Nxd4 Nge7
- c4 Nxd4
- Qxd4 Nc6
- Qd1 d4
- e3 bc5
- exd4 Bxd4
- Nc3 O-O
- Nb5 Bb6
- b3 a6
- Nc3 Bd4
- Bb2 e5
- Qd2 Be6
- Nd5 b5
- cxb5 axb5
- Nf4 exf4
- Bxc4 Bxb2
- Qxb2 Rb8
- Rfd1 Qb6
- Bf3 fxg3
- hxg3 b4
- a4 bxa3(!)
- Rxa3 g6
- Qd4 Qb5
- b4 Qxb4
- Qxb4 Rxb4
- Ra8 Rxa8
- Bxa8 g5
- Bd5 Bf5
- Rc1 Qg7
- Rc7 Bg6
- Rc4 Rb1+
- Kg2 Re1
I think there is a 4% chance that Ding loses this position.
GM Anish Giri
Ding, he's eyeballing Gukesh a lot. Whenever Ding is going into these long things, it's as if he is verifying his analysis by Gukesh's facial expressions. Strange! Gukesh has a poker face; how do you read him?
GM David Howell
Ding responds with 26. a4, aiming to push back Black's b4 pawn and gain some space on the queenside. However, Gukesh plays a brilliant reply with 26...bxa3, capturing the a4 pawn and creating a passed pawn on the a-file. This move is a strong tactical choice, as it not only removes a threat but also provides Black with a potentially dangerous pawn to advance. Ding recaptures with 27. Rxa3, bringing his rook to the a-file to challenge Black's newly created pawn. Gukesh then plays 27...g6, solidifying his kingside pawn structure and preventing any immediate threats from White’s rook or bishop on that side.
Gukesh then pushes 25...b4, advancing his queenside pawn and looking to create further play on that side of the board. This move threatens to undermine White’s control over the queenside and create a passed pawn. The position is now highly complex, with both players creating threats on opposite sides of the board, leading to a tense and tactical middlegame.
Gukesh responded with 21...Bxb2, capturing Ding's bishop and threatening to further simplify the position. Ding recaptured with 22. Qxb2, maintaining control over the queenside and keeping pressure on Black's position. Gukesh then played 22...Rb8, bringing his rook into play and possibly aiming to put pressure on the b2 queen or prepare for a b4 pawn push to activate his queenside pawns. Ding continued his development with 23. Rfd1, centralizing his rook and increasing his influence over the open d-file, while also eyeing potential threats against Black’s weakened structure. Gukesh responded with 23...Qb6, activating his queen and targeting Ding’s b2 pawn, while also eyeing potential tactical opportunities along the b-file and central squares.
Gukesh responded with 20...exf4, capturing Ding's knight and opening up the center. This trade removes one of White's key attacking pieces, but it also weakens Black’s pawn structure around the king. Ding immediately followed up with 21. Bxc6, capturing Black’s knight on c6 and forcing Gukesh to recapture. This exchange gives White an advantage in material and creates further imbalance in the position. Now, Ding has control over key squares, while Gukesh is left to reorganize and defend, especially considering the opened lines and potential pressure on Black’s queenside.
If Ding wins, he will continue as the 17th Classical World Champion, but if Gukesh wins, he will be the 18th Champion and the youngest ever.
In Game 13, playing with white pieces for the last time in this match, Gukesh produced an attacking approach but Liren defended superbly, coming up with precise moves in a nerve-jingling time scramble.
Ding lived by sword once again, spending a lot of time making his calculation in the opening, as Gukesh applied the pressure, playing with positive intent to slowly create an opportunity. The 18-year-old Indian challenger had taken the upper hand in the middle game but Ding came up with precise answers to every question his opponent posted, defending resolutely to steer himself to safety.
