WATCH: India’s D Gukesh gets emotional after becoming youngest-ever World Chess Champion

At just 18 years old, Indian chess prodigy Gukesh has etched his name in history as the youngest-ever chess champion, surpassing the legendary Garry Kasparov. His victory over Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren in a three-week battle in Singapore was nothing but a milestone in the sport.

In the clip, the 18-year-old can be seen shedding tears of joy after the very moment he got to know that he has created history. This milestone will definitely inspire more Indian youngsters to choose a career path in Chess as the game has been seeing an increase in its popularity.

Watch the video here:

The emotional moment that 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju became the 18th world chess champion 🥲🏆 pic.twitter.com/jRIZrYeyCF

— Chess.com (@chesscom) December 12, 2024

Gukesh's amazing focus in the game helped him achieve the milestone

Gukesh’s approach to the game has been nothing short of methodical. His presence in the playing hall is a study in focus. Once at the chessboard, he shuts his eyes, entering a near-meditative state, blocking out distractions and centring himself in the game. 

His opponent, Ding Liren, often glanced at him, trying to read Gukesh’s expressions for signs of weakness or approval. But the young champion remained calm, collected, and unreadable.

What sets Gukesh apart from many of his peers is his remarkable discipline and ability to limit distractions. During the intense three-week contest, he refrained from excessive social media or internet usage, choosing instead to focus entirely on his goal of becoming the world champion. His commitment to this singular objective has been evident from a young age, with his youth coach, grandmaster Vishnu Prasanna, emphasizing that every action Gukesh takes is in service of this ambition.