Gukesh Dommaraju - Young Chess Prodigies

In this edition of Chesskid Spotlight, we showcase the youngest world champion ever, Gukesh Dommaraju!

 

Learn All About Gukesh:

Meet Gukesh Dommaraju

World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju learned chess at seven years old. But once he picked up the game, he rocketed forward faster than a queen zooming across the board.

 

Photo: Maria Emelianova

Gukesh thinking about his next move. Photo: Maria Emelianova

 

Gukesh’s Speedy Chess Journey

Age 7:
Gukesh plays his first chess tournament the same year he learns the game! Coaches quickly notice his talent and his love for chess. Soon he’s training three times a week.

Age 9:
Just two years later, he earns the title of candidate master. That’s a big milestone for any young chess player.

Age 11:
In March 2018, Gukesh travels to France and scores an impressive 7 out of 9 at the Cappelle la Grande Open. This amazing performance earns him the international master title.

Age 12:
Only one year later, he becomes the second‑youngest grandmaster in history. Talk about a rapid rise up the chess mountain!

 

Gukesh Today

Gukesh continues to play in tournaments all over the world, inspiring kids everywhere. And in November 2026, he’ll defend his world championship title against another young star, 19‑year old Javokhir Sindarov.

It’s going to be an epic showdown between two rising chess legends. Chess fans everywhere will be watching!

 

Gukesh Fast Facts

Ready to learn some awesome facts about World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju? Check out these cool highlights from his chess journey!

A Gold‑Medal Machine
In 2018, Gukesh won five gold medals at the Asian Youth Chess Championships. Five! That’s like winning every event at a school field day.

India’s Highest Rated Player
In 2023, Gukesh passed chess legend Viswanathan Anand to become the highest‑rated player in India. That’s a HUGE milestone, Anand is one of the greatest players ever.

Science Runs in the Family
Gukesh’s dad is an ENT specialist, and his mom is a microbiologist. So he grew up around science, but chose to become a chess superstar!

A Fan of Sports Legends
When he’s not checkmating opponents, Gukesh loves reading books about great athletes. He studies champions from all kinds of sports.

Big Dreams at Age 12
When Gukesh was just 12 years old, he announced he wanted to become world champion. Spoiler alert, he actually did it!

Youngest Ever to Win the Candidates and the World Championship
Gukesh is the youngest player in history to win both the candidates tournament and the world chess championship. Talk about breaking records!

Favorite Chess Hero
Even though he passed him in rating, Gukesh’s favorite chess player is still Viswanathan Anand, India’s first world champion and a huge inspiration.

Best Games

Finally, let's take a look at a couple of Gukesh's memorable games. Gukesh has played so many great games that it was challenging to pick just two! We encourage all the ChessKid's out there to research and learn more from this great world champion!

 
 

Check out this video by ChessKid's own FunMasterMike to see all the highlights and action from the two games above plus more!