17-year-old Dommaraju Gukesh stuns chess world

A 17-year-old prodigy from India has stunned the chess world and will challenge Chinese star Ding Liren for the crown.

Dommaraju Gukesh won the tournament. Picture: Supplied

Dommaraju Gukesh has stunned the entire chess world.

The 17-year-old Indian grandmaster beat a top-class field in the Candidates Tournament and will play Ding Liren for the chess crown.

It all came down to the thrilling final day in Toronto, Canada, with the four players in contention to win all playing each other.

Already leading by half a point, Gukesh managed a fighting draw against American Hikaru Nakamura.

Dommaraju Gukesh has stunned the chess world. Picture: Eldar Azimov

Playing black, Gukesh defended with the Queen’s Gambit Accepted as Nakamura tried to complicate the position, but had to settle for a draw.

All eyes then turned to the game between Italian-American Fabiano Caruana and Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi — if either player won they would draw even with Gukesh and force a play-off.

Caruana found the key breakthrough d5.

Caruana and Nepomniachtchi entered into the Queen’s Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation and early on things looked promising for the American as he found the strong breakthrough 21. d5.

But Caruana threw away a winning position — twice — and had to settle for a draw against Nepomniachtchi, who lost the world championship last year against Ding.

All hail Gukesh! - The new Challenger!
At 17 years old, youngest ever to win the Candidates Tournament! pic.twitter.com/5DJ3OKZMga

— agadmator (@agadmator) April 22, 2024

17-year-old Indian prodigy 🇮🇳 Gukesh D makes history as the youngest-ever player to win the #FIDECandidates! 🔥

📷 Michal Walusza pic.twitter.com/xyAoRceiTE

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) April 22, 2024

GUKESH is the deserving winner of a memorable and incredibly competitive Candidates tournament!

He bounced back strong after that heartbreaking R7 loss to Firouzja. Resiliency and mental strength far beyond his 17 years. CONGRATULATIONS to Gukesh, his team, and India!

— John Bartholomew (@fins0905) April 22, 2024

Fabiano Caruana threw away a winning position. Picture: Getty Images

Streamer and chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura will have to wait for another opportunity. Picture: Getty Images for World Chess

The win means the 17-year-old Gukesh will now face the biggest challenge of his life as he attempts to become the second Indian to become world champion after Viswanathan Anand.

There were three Indian players in the tournament but not many had picked Gukesh would be the winner, instead favouring the more experienced Caruana and Nepomniachtchi.

However with a consistent five wins and only one loss, chess prodigy Gukesh managed to pull ahead of the field by just half a point.