An 18-year-old Indian chess prodigy, D Gukesh, is on the verge of making history. In three weeks, the chess world might see its youngest-ever undisputed world champion. Gukesh, who recently received a Mercedes Benz from his school for his achievements, will face China’s reigning champion, Ding Liren, in the World Chess Championship starting Monday in Singapore. Gukesh is seen as the favorite, thanks to his excellent form, while Ding hasn’t won a classical game in over 300 days.
This is a historic moment for India, as Gukesh becomes the first Indian besides Viswanathan Anand to compete in a World Chess Championship. Anand, a five-time world champion, last played for the title a decade ago. Gukesh earned his spot after becoming the youngest winner of the Candidates Tournament at 17. Ding, on the other hand, became champion last year by defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi after Magnus Carlsen stepped down from defending his title.
Interestingly, this match doesn’t include the world’s highest-rated player, Carlsen, or even the second-ranked. Gukesh is currently ranked world No. 5, while Ding is No. 23 — the lowest ranking ever for a defending champion.
Carlsen, now retired from title matches, recently made headlines with a fun chess960 game against Fabiano Caruana in a pool in Singapore. Former champion Garry Kasparov also voiced skepticism about the match, saying it doesn’t crown the world’s best player but remains an important event. If Gukesh wins, he will break Kasparov’s record as the youngest undisputed champion.
This is only the second time two Asian players are meeting in a title match. Ding’s recent form is a concern — he hasn’t won a tournament game since September, while Gukesh dominated the Chess Olympiad, earning an individual gold and an impressive performance rating of 3056.
Speaking before the match, Gukesh said he respects Ding’s experience but is focused on giving his best in every game. His coach, Grzegorz Gajewski, highlighted Gukesh’s strong calculation skills, saying he’s very hard to beat. Although Ding leads their head-to-head record in classical chess, Gukesh’s current form makes him a formidable opponent.
Ding is known for his solid, intuitive style and predictable opening choices, though he surprised many in last year’s championship with an unusual French Defense. Gukesh, 14 years younger, is more flexible and aggressive, with a style aimed at catching opponents off guard.
Gukesh’s journey has been guided by Viswanathan Anand, who has mentored him and paired him with Gajewski as a coach. Anand’s advice to Gukesh before the match? "Be confident, but cautious. Ding is a great player."
Gukesh will play White in Game 1 and aims to start strong as he pursues his dream of becoming world champion.
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