The Gukesh Era: How an 18-Year-Old Conquered the Chess World

Gukesh Dommaraju became a grandmaster at age 12, the second-youngest in history at the time. By 17 he was already ranked in the world top 20. His victory in the 2024 Candidates tournament made him the youngest ever Challenger. In the World Championship match against Ding Liren, Gukesh showed remarkable composure, winning the decisive final game to claim the title at just 18 years old. His style combines deep opening preparation with fearless attacking play, reminiscent of a young Kasparov. India now produces more grandmasters per year than any other country, and Gukesh leads a generation that includes Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and others who are reshaping the global chess landscape.