TRANSCRIPT
Chess has a new world champion...
"Words can't begin to capture the significance of this moment and there it is - cheering."
...and he's the youngest ever to become one.
18-year-old Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Chinese defending champion Ding Liren on Thursday [[Dec 12]] snatching the title with a final score of 7.5 to 6.5.
The game unfolded with a dramatic turn of events after an almost three-week long tournament.
The outcome cemented over a handshake as Gukesh was brought to tears.
A dream come true for the teenager who's now the 18th world chess champion.
"Every chess players wants to experience this moment and very few get the chance. To be one of them is, I think the only way to explain it is just that I'm living my dreams."
His country watching on to see just the second Indian player crowned world chess champion.
"Gukesh will become the world champion - cheers"
In a statement on social media platform X, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Gukesh saying: 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.
Gukesh's dream began in Chennai, a city described as India's chess capital.
His father, who works as a surgeon - along with his mother, who works as a microbiologist - encouraged Gukesh to pursue a career in chess.
And he says his passion for the game developed early.
"Since the time I started playing chess, like 6-and-a-half seven, I've been dreaming about this, about living this moment for more than 10 years."
The championship began in late November and lasted 14 matches before it was finally decided.
Gukesh won the final game after Ding wilted under pressure and blundered in what commentators considered to be a comfortable position.
Ding says it was the look of Gukesh's face that made him realise he'd made a mistake.
"I was totally in shock when I realised I made a blunder. His facial expression showed that he was very happy and excited and I realised I made a blunder."
But far from arrogant, Gukesh had nothing but praise for his opponent.
"He has been one of the best players in history for several years and to see him struggling and to see 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."
The previous record-holder for the youngest chess world champion was Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov.
He was 22 when he won in 1985 - a time when Russia and the former Soviet Union dominated the world championship title for decades.
Now, chess' latest prodigy is celebrating the win that also secured him almost four million dollars.
