At 18 years old, Dommaraju scored 7.5 points, surpassing his Chinese opponent’s 6.5 points to claim the title. This accomplishment surpasses the record set by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, who became world champion at the age of 22.
Known as a chess prodigy, the Indian teenager gained recognition in the chess world when he attained the grandmaster title at just 12 years old. Dommaraju entered the match as the youngest challenger to the world crown after emerging victorious in the Candidates tournament earlier in the year.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the young chess champion for his outstanding performance, attributing his success to his exceptional talent, dedication, and unwavering perseverance.
“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,” Modi said in a post on X.
The match was a 14-round long-time classical event with a prize fund of US$2.5 million ($3.92 million).
