India's aspiring chess players and their parents woke up Friday with big dreams after 18-year-old hometown hero Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest world champion.

Gukesh Dommaraju of India defeated Ding Liren of China Thursday to win the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship, giving him chess's highest honor at the age of 18. Dommaraju won the best-of-14 series by a score of 7 1/2–6 1/2, taking the 14th game thanks to a massive tactical error by Liren.

World Chess Championship victory underscores the flourishing chess culture in Chennai, driven by passionate institutions and Grandmasters who are willing to give back to the community. The city's rich chess legacy,

With the title, the 18-year-old from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India has gone past Garry Kasparov, who previously held the record

Teenager Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest-ever undisputed classical chess world champion after beating Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 in their best-of-14 final in Singapore on Thursday.

India’s D Gukesh aims to become the youngest-ever World Chess Champion in the 2024 championship’s thrilling final game.

It had been an unexpectedly close contest in Singapore with Ding Liren. When he won, the normally stoic Gukesh clasped his hands at the board and burst into tears.

Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has made chess history by becoming the youngest world champion after his surprise win over the defending champion, China's Ding Liren, on Thursday in Singapore. The big picture: The 18-year-old from the southeast Indian city of Chennai's FIDE World Chess Championship win means he's surpassed Garry Kasparov's record set in in 1985,

Indian chess Grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh has become the youngest-ever GM to win the World Championship on Thursday. Gukesh defeated reigning World Champion Ding Liren in the 14th and final game of the World Chess Championship 2024 to claim the title with a scoreline of 7.