3 youngest world chess champions of all time ft. Gukesh Dommaraju
Indian Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju has etched his name in history as the youngest-ever World Chess Champion. At just 18 years and six months old, Gukesh defeated reigning champion Ding Liren to claim the coveted title, surpassing a longstanding record in the sport.
This victory places Gukesh alongside some of the most iconic figures in chess history. While his achievement is remarkable, he follows in the footsteps of a select few who have achieved similar feats at young ages.
Let’s take a look at the top three youngest world chess champions of all time.
#3 Magnus Carlsen (22 years 11 months 24 days)
Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian chess legend, was the second youngest chess world champion when he defeated Viswanathan Anand in the 2013 World Chess Championship. Carlsen, then just 22 years and 11 months old, emerged victorious in the 12-game series held in Chennai, India, by a commanding 6.5-3.5 scoreline. His win ended Anand’s dominance, as the Indian Grandmaster had held the world title for four consecutive years.
Carlsen’s win was the beginning of a new era in chess. He became the then-youngest world champion of the 21st century and brought a fresh, dynamic approach to the game.
#2 Garry Kasparov (22 years 6 months 27 days)
Before Carlsen’s rise, the record for the youngest World Chess Champion was held by the legendary Garry Kasparov. In 1985, at just 22 years, six months, and 27 days, Kasparov defeated Anatoly Karpov in a grueling 24-game World Championship match. Played in Moscow, the match ended with Kasparov winning 13-11, after Karpov resigned on move 42.
Kasparov would go on to dominate the chess world for years, holding the youngest World Chess Champion title for over three decades.
#1 Gukesh Dommaraju (18 years 6 months 14 days)
And then there’s Gukesh Dommaraju. On December 12, 2024, Gukesh made history by becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at just 18 years, six months, and 14 days. His incredible victory over China’s Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship 2024 in Singapore broke the longstanding record held by Garry Kasparov for nearly three decades.
Gukesh Dommaraju's achievement is all the more impressive, considering he began the championship with a loss in the opening round but bounced back to clinch the title in the final game with the score reading 7.5-6.5.
His win marks a historic milestone not only for him but also for Indian chess, as Gukesh is the second Indian to claim the world title, following the legendary Viswanathan Anand.