Elon Musk congratulated D Gukesh for becoming the youngest classical chess world champion after overcoming Ding Liren 7. 5-6. 5 in the best-of-14 final that took place in Singapore on Thursday.
Congratulations!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 14, 2024
The 18-year-old Gukesh and reigning champion Ding were even as they approached the final game, with a tiebreak seemingly unavoidable. However, Gukesh capitalized on a critical mistake by Ding to secure the essential point. Musk conveyed his congratulations on X (formerly Twitter), in reaction to Gukesh’s celebratory message.
Gukesh, who was only seven years old when he witnessed Viswanathan Anand lose the world chess title to Magnus Carlsen in 2013, regarded the match as a pivotal moment in his chess journey.
“I was in the stands and I was looking through the glass box (where the players were), and I thought it would be so cool to be inside one day,” Gukesh recalled, referencing the tournament in Chennai. “When Magnus won, I felt a strong desire to be the one to reclaim the title for India. And this dream I had over 10 years ago has been the most significant thing in my life so far,” he elaborated. “I’ve been dreaming about… experiencing this moment for over 10 years. ”
Also Read: D Gukesh’s Mom Overjoyed, Embraces Him After Historic Victory | Watch
Gukesh, recognized as a budding star since achieving the title of grandmaster at 12, entered the competition as the youngest challenger in history after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. At 18, he breaks Garry Kasparov’s record of 22 when the Russian legend captured his first world title in 1985.
Gukesh is now only the second Indian to attain the world championship title, after five-time champion Viswanathan Anand. Anand, who has mentored Gukesh, expressed his pride on X, stating, “It’s a proud moment for chess, a proud moment for India… and for me, a very personal moment of pride. ”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Gukesh, describing his accomplishment as *“the result of his unparalleled talent, hard work, and unwavering determination. ”* Modi highlighted the victory’s inspirational impact, stating, “His triumph has not only etched his name in the annals of chess history but has also inspired millions of young minds to dream big and pursue excellence. ”
