The year was 2013. The reigning world champion, the maestro, Viswanathan Anand, was battling for the World Championship title against the 22-year-old Magnus Carlsen in Chennai.

Thousands of chess fans were watching from across the world, including a seven-year-old boy from Chennai. The boy’s name was Dommaraju Gukesh. Carlsen
ended up winning that match exactly 11 years ago, taking the world championship title away from India.

The seven-year-old, among the thousands of heartbroken fans, made a little wish to be the one to bring the title back to India.

Fast-forward to 2024. The seven-year-old boy is now an 18-year-old, contesting the World Championship title against Ding Liren from China in Singapore. Gukesh now has a chance to fulfil the dream he first conceived several years ago.

We were all expecting Gukesh to win the much-anticipated match against Ding. The excitement was palpable, and I even believed the match might conclude before the scheduled 14 games. Yet, Ding’s flawless play made the world wonder where this version of Ding Liren had been in the past two years since he won the world championship title.

After seven games without a winner, even I started doubting Gukesh’s chances. Finally, in the 11th game, Gukesh struck, taking the lead to 6-5. At this point, I felt that Ding might collapse under pressure. However, Ding responded with an impeccable performance in the 12th game, levelling the score at 6-6.

In the final classical game of the match, Gukesh began confidently with the black pieces, and after a couple of hours, it became clear that he was in no danger of losing.

However, Ding also seemed unlikely to lose, as the position looked almost perfectly balanced. Then came the pivotal moment: Ding sacrificed a pawn to enter an endgame
he believed he could defend.

As the world expected the game to end in a draw, I remembered a strikingly
similar endgame Ding had played against Le Quang Liem of Vietnam in the 2024
Chess Olympiad. That endgame was also close to a draw, yet Ding failed to hold it and suffered a loss — his only defeat in the Olympiad.

Remarkably, history repeated itself. Gukesh capitalised on the opportunity and emerged victorious in the 14th game, clinching the crown with a final score of 7.5-6.5.

I was commentating live on the Qatar Masters when this historic moment unfolded. My co-commentator, Irene from Indonesia, and I could barely contain our emotions. We had to take a break because all we could talk about was
the match.

The moment Gukesh broke into tears after the victory was one of the most heartwarming in chess history. It was a moment that resonated deeply with fans around the world.

Gukesh has expressed his ambition to remain at the top for a long time, much like Carlsen. Given his extraordinary achievements at such a young age, his goal appears well within reach.

Anand’s multiple-time world chess victories inspired a generation of players and bolstered the nation’s confidence. Similarly, Gukesh’s win will spark a ripple effect, inspiring countless of young talents to take up the game and dream big.

Gukesh’s achievement is not just a personal milestone; it’s a monumental moment for the country and the global chess community.

The journey ahead is bright, and his story will continue to inspire generations to come.