Eighteen-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest world chess champion, triumphing over the reigning champion Ding Liren in the pivotal 14th game of the World Chess Championship. The match was a fluctuating contest that appeared destined for a tie-breaker, as anticipated by Liren. However, a significant error by Liren during the 55th move of the endgame allowed Gukesh to claim victory after a fiercely contested match, concluding with a score of 7.5-6.5 in Singapore.

Upon Liren's blunder, Gukesh quickly recognized the opportunity, and his emotions were immediately evident. Following Liren's resignation, the two players shook hands, after which an overwhelmed Gukesh meticulously reset the pieces on the board, and moved to tears. 

Gukesh's father, who was present alongside mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, shared in the overwhelming pride and joy of the moment. After the match, Gukesh exited the room to embrace his father in a deeply emotional reunion, surrounded by photographers and fans. The two shared a heartfelt hug, with Gukesh visibly sobbing. He also embraced a team member and was later seen collapsing into Upton's arms, crying profusely.

Following his victory in the team vehicle, he was observed shedding tears of joy while surrounded by his teammates. Additionally, he engaged in an emotional phone conversation with his mother.

Following his victory, Gukesh described Liren's mistake as the 'most significant moment' of his life. He expressed admiration for Liren, referring to him as 'one of the greatest players in history' and commending him as a 'true world champion.'

"Representing my country... Eleven years ago, the title was taken from India. When I watched in 2013, gazing into the glass box, I envisioned how remarkable it would be to be there one day. A decade ago, I dreamed of reclaiming the title. There is nothing more fulfilling than this," he continued.

Regarding his error, Liren remarked, "It took me some time to realize that I had made a blunder."

"I believe I played my best tournament this year. I could have performed better, but given the circumstances of yesterday's luck, losing in the end is a fair outcome. I have no regrets."

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