NEW DELHI: At his Dil-Luminati concert in Chandigarh, music sensation Diljit Dosanjh took a moment to honour a remarkable feat in Indian sports history, dedicating his show to D Gukesh, the youngest-ever world chess champion.
“Today’s show, this concert of mine, is dedicated to our boy Gukesh. Because he had already decided earlier that he wanted to become the world champion, and he made it happen,” said the singer, lauding Gukesh’s determination and historic victory at the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 in Singapore.
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Hailing from Chennai, 18-year-old Grandmaster Gukesh made history this week, defeating reigning champion Ding Liren of China to claim the world chess crown.
The nerve-wracking 14th and final game ended with Gukesh’s triumph after 58 moves and four gruelling hours, earning him the required 7.5 points to secure the championship.
Liren, meanwhile, finished at 6.5 points, marking the end of his reign.
Gukesh’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. His victory breaks a 39-year-old record previously held by Garry Kasparov, who became the youngest world chess champion at 22 in 1985.
This year, Gukesh had already shattered another milestone, becoming the youngest challenger to the world title by winning the Candidates Tournament.
His win also places him alongside Viswanathan Anand, a five-time winner, as the second Indian to hold the world chess title.
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Reflecting on his monumental achievement, the Chennai-born teenager revealed, “I was dreaming of this moment for the last 10 years. I am happy that I turned my dream into reality.”
He admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the victory but seized the opportunity to press on during the match’s final stages.
The triumph not only cements Gukesh’s place in the annals of chess history but also earned him $1.35 million of the total $2.5 million prize money.
With his sights set high and immense skill on the board, the young chess prodigy has captured not just the title but the imagination of millions, earning accolades from all corners, including Diljit Dosanjh.