Elon Musk congratulates D Gukesh on becoming youngest world chess champion

SpaceX CEO and ‘X’ owner Elon Musk congratulated Indian Grand Master D. Gukesh after his historic win in the World Chess Championship. Celebrating his accomplishment, Gukesh went to X saying, “18th @ 18!” stressing the incredible mark at such a young age. “Congratulations!” Musk said in response to Gukesh’s post, a straightforward yet heartfelt note. Gukesh became the youngest World Chess Champion at 18 years old on Thursday, defeating titleholder Ding Liren of China in the 14th and final game of a gripping showdown.

Gukesh secured the required 7.5 points to Liren’s 6.5 after winning the last classical time-control game of the 14-game match, which had appeared headed for a draw for most of its duration.Before this historic achievement, the legendary Garry Kasparov of Russia held the record as the youngest World Chess Champion, winning the title at 22 in 1985 by dethroning Anatoly Karpov.

Gukesh entered the championship as the youngest-ever challenger for the world crown after triumphing in the Candidates Tournament earlier this year. He is only the second Indian, after the iconic Viswanathan Anand, to win the global title. Anand, a five-time World Chess Champion, last claimed the crown in 2013.

Gukesh’s journey to the top was inspired by a pivotal moment in 2013 when, as a seven-year-old, he watched compatriot Viswanathan Anand lose the world chess title to Magnus Carlsen of Norway. This defeat sparked his dream of bringing the title back to India.

Reflecting on his victory, Gukesh described the 2013 match as a defining moment in his career. “I was in the stands, looking inside the glass box where the players were, and I thought, It will be so cool to be inside one day. When Magnus won, I thought, I really want to be the one to bring the title back to India. This dream, which I’ve carried for over 10 years, has been the most important thing in my life so far,” he told reporters.

The teenage prodigy, who became a chess grandmaster at the age of 12, has been widely regarded as a rising star in the chess world. At 18, he is four years younger than Kasparov was when the Russian claimed his first world title. Gukesh’s triumph cements his place in history and continues India’s proud legacy in the global chess arena.