Indian Grandmaster Gukesh D experienced overwhelming disbelief and was unable to contain his tears after achieving the remarkable feat of becoming the youngest world chess champion at the age of 18. He secured the title on Thursday by defeating reigning world champion Ding Liren of China in the final and decisive game of an exhilarating contest held in Singapore.

Entering the match as the youngest challenger in history for the world title, Gukesh did not begin the championship on a high note, suffering a loss in the opening round. Nevertheless, he made a strong comeback, equalizing the score in the third round. Following a sequence of seven drawn games, the Indian player took the lead in the 11th game, only to be defeated by Liren in the subsequent round. Ultimately, Gukesh triumphed on Thursday. Just as a draw appeared likely, which would have favoured Liren, Gukesh managed to secure the necessary 7.5 points against Liren's 6.5, clinching victory in the final classical time control game of the 14-game match.

In the aftermath of his victory, Gukesh was visibly emotional, covering his face with his hands as he wiped away tears. Conversely, Liren appeared devastated by the outcome, shaking hands with Gukesh before departing, visibly disappointed.

"I have been dreaming of this moment for the past ten years. I am thrilled to have turned that dream into reality," the soft-spoken young man from Chennai expressed to reporters following his historic win. "I became a bit emotional because I did not anticipate winning. However, I was presented with an opportunity to press forward."

History for Gukesh!

With this victory, Gukesh, who secured his place in the World Championship by triumphing in the Candidates tournament earlier this year, has made history as the youngest world chess champion. This record was formerly held by Garry Kasparov, who claimed the title at the age of 22 after defeating Anatoly Karpov in 1985.

Additionally, Gukesh has become the second Indian to achieve this prestigious title, following the esteemed Viswanathan Anand, a five-time world champion who last held the crown in 2013.

"Every chess player aspires to realize this dream. I am currently living my dream," Gukesh remarked.

Read Also: IPL Team Owner Expresses Confidence in MS Dhoni's Silence Over 7-Year-Old Controversy

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!