Proud Moment For India : Viswanathan Anand Heaps Praise On Gukesh D For Becoming Youngest World Chess Champion

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Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh created history on Thursday, becoming the youngest world chess champion at the age of 18 after defeating China's defending champion Ding Liren.

He is only the second Indian to achieve this feat, following in the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand, who won the prestigious title five times in his remarkable career.

It was a tense summit clash and Gukesh won the 14th and the last game of the title showdown to etch his name as the 18th World Champion in history.

The 55-year old Grandmaster took to social media after the victory to extend his heartiest congratulations to the newly crowned world champion. For him it was not only a proud moment for the country but it was also a very personal moment of proud for him as well.

''Congratulations! It's a proud moment for chess, a proud moment for India, a proud moment for WACA, and for me, a very personal moment of pride. Ding played a very exciting match and showed the champion he is'', Anand wrote on X.

After his historic triumph, Gukesh shared how Magnus Carlsen's 2013 win against former world champion Viswanathan Anand inspired him to pursue his dream of reclaiming the title for India.

"In 2013, during the Chess World Championship in Chennai, I looked at Vishy Sir [Anand] and Magnus (Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen) and thought it would be really cool to be there one day. To actually sit there and see the Indian flag next to me was probably the best moment of my life. When Magnus won, I thought, 'I really want to be the one to bring the title back to India' '', the teenager said after the match.

Vishy Sir was never officially part of the team, but we all know he was supporting me. He attended one of the training camps and also helped remotely during a few sessions," he further added.