Indian teenager Gukesh to challenge China’s Ding for world chess title

Seventeen-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju sets up world title showdown after winning the 2024 Candidates Tournament.

India’s Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest player to win the men’s Candidates chess tournament after a draw against Hikaru Nakamura on a nail-biting final day of the double round-robin event in Toronto.

The 17-year-old grandmaster effectively wrapped up victory in the tournament on Sunday after American Fabiano Caruana blundered a winning position against Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi to be held to a draw.

Gukesh’s draw with the black pieces put him on 9/14 with Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi and Caruana finishing on 8.5/14.

With the win, Gukesh has set up a world chess title showdown against reigning champion Ding Liren of China.