Gukesh wrote his name in the history books by becoming the youngest world champion in history on Thursday (December 11) in Singapore after a dramatic victory over China's Ding Liren, who was also the defending champion, having won the crown in 2023 after beating Ian Nepomniachtchi in a tie-breaker.

Gukesh is the 18th world champion in history but only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand, who won the elusive title five times in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2012. Anand's first title had come at age 31, while Gukesh had won at the age of only 18.

After winning the match, Gukesh recalled the 2013 final when Magnus Carlsen ended Vishwanathan Anand's run of four consecutive titles in a row and stated he wanted to to bring back the title to India.

“Since the time I started playing chess when I was six or seven, I have been dreaming about living this moment for more than 10 years. Every chess player wants to experience this moment and very few get the chance. To be one of them, the only way to explain it is that I am living my dream.”

“Eleven years back, the title was taken away from India (when Anand lost to Magnus Carlsen in 2013). When I was watching the match in 2013, I was in the stands (in Chennai) and looking inside the glass box and I thought it would be so cool to be inside one day," said Gukesh in the post-match press conference.

Talking about the match, Gukesh called it the best moment of his life. The 18-year-old admitted he was surprised by Ding's blunder and stated he did not realise it for a while.

"Actually, when he played Rf2, I didn’t realise, I was almost going to play Rb3 but then I saw that his bishop is actually getting trapped and after Ke1, I have Ke5 and the pawn ending which is winning. When I realised, it was probably the best moment of my life,” said Gukesh.

Gukesh was all praise for his opponent and labelled him as a 'real world champion' and called him one of the best players in history.

“We all know who Ding is and he has been one of the best players in history for several years and to see him struggling and how much pressure he had to face and the kind of fight he gave in this match, it shows what a true champion he is and no matter who says what about Ding, for me he is a real world champion.

“Champions always step up when the moment comes. He has not been in great shape for the past two years but he came here. He was obviously struggling during the games and wasn’t physically the best but he fought in all the games and fought like a true champion and I am really sorry for Ding and his team. They put on a great show," Gukesh stated.

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