Gukesh D
Youngest undisputed world chess champion
- Age
- 20 yrs
- Birthday in 213 days
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Gukesh D is a chess grandmaster from Chennai who became the youngest undisputed world chess champion in history when he defeated Ding Liren in December 2024 at the age of eighteen. He also led India to Chess Olympiad gold the same year.
Biography
Chennai prodigy
Gukesh was born to a surgeon father and microbiologist mother in Chennai and learnt chess at seven. He became a grandmaster in 2019 at 12 years, 7 months and 17 days, one of the youngest in history; his father gave up his medical practice to travel with him.
Rise
He trained at the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy, founded by Viswanathan Anand, and broke into the world’s top ten. In 2022 he won individual gold on board one at the Chess Olympiad and in 2023 overtook Anand as India’s top-rated player.
World champion
In April 2024 he won the Candidates Tournament in Toronto, the youngest player ever to do so. In December 2024 in Singapore he beat defending champion Ding Liren of China 7.5–6.5, winning the final classical game, to become the 18th undisputed world champion and the youngest ever.
Recognition
Months earlier he had led India to its first Chess Olympiad gold in Budapest, winning individual gold on board one again. He received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna for 2024.
Why they matter
Gukesh’s world title at eighteen marks the moment Indian chess went from having one superstar to having a generation. He was one of several Indian teenagers — with R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and others — to break into the world’s elite in the early 2020s, a wave often credited to Viswanathan Anand’s example and to online chess during the pandemic. His win over Ding Liren made him the youngest undisputed world champion, beating Garry Kasparov’s record, and positions India as one of the dominant chess nations for years to come.
Timeline
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2006
Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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2019
Becomes a grandmaster aged twelve
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2022
Olympiad board one gold
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2023
Becomes India’s top-rated player
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2024
Wins the Candidates; Olympiad team gold; World Champion
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2025
Receives the Khel Ratna
Awards and honours
-
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna
2025 · For 2024.
Did you know?
-
1
He became world champion at eighteen.
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2
His father gave up his medical career to support him.
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3
He overtook his mentor Viswanathan Anand as India’s top-rated player in 2023.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Gukesh D?
Gukesh D is a chess grandmaster from Chennai who became the youngest undisputed world chess champion in history when he defeated Ding Liren in December 2024 at the age of eighteen. He also led India to Chess Olympiad gold the same year.
How old is Gukesh D?
Gukesh D is 20 years old, born on 29 May 2006 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Where is Gukesh D from?
Gukesh D was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
What is Gukesh D known for?
Gukesh D is best known for Winning the 2024 World Chess Championship at eighteen; 2024 Candidates and Olympiad gold.
What awards has Gukesh D received?
Notable honours include Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2025).
References
- Gukesh Dommaraju — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Gukesh Dommaraju — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Gukesh Dommaraju (Q56026072) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Gukesh Dommaraju”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Gukesh D.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/gukesh-d
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