India's Dommaraju Gukesh made history becoming the youngster World Chess Champion defeating the reigning Champion from China- Ding Liren. While the victory was celebrated WorldWide some part of the World was sad seeing the growth of Indian Chess.
In a bold statement, Andrei Filatov, the President of the Russian Chess Federation, has accused Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren of deliberately losing the decisive match in the 2024 World Chess Championship against India’s D. Gukesh. The dramatic encounter, which took place in Singapore on December 12, saw Gukesh emerge victorious, clinching his maiden World Chess Championship title with a 7.5-6.5 score. However, Filatov suggests foul play in game 14, where Liren’s actions during the critical final moves raised suspicions.
"The result of the last game caused bewilderment among professionals and chess fans. The actions of the Chinese chess player in the decisive segment are extremely suspicious and require a separate investigation by FIDE," Filatov said. He added, "Losing the position in which Ding Liren was is difficult even for a first-class player. The defeat of the Chinese chess player in today's game raises a lot of questions and looks like a deliberate one."
A Pivotal Blunder in Game 14
The controversy centered around a significant blunder on the 55th move of game 14, which opened the door for Gukesh to seize control and eventually win. Just three moves later, Liren lost the match, thus conceding the World Championship title to the Indian prodigy. This pivotal moment in the game sparked Filatov’s accusations, with the Russian chess chief calling for further scrutiny into Liren’s actions during the finale.
A Sensitive Time for Russian Chess
Filatov’s comments come at a time when Russian chess has been facing challenges, with the country’s global sports reputation tarnished by doping scandals and its exclusion from various international events due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Despite these challenges, Russia’s standing in the chess world remains influential, lending weight to Filatov’s claims.
Gukesh Makes History
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old Gukesh made history by becoming the youngest World Chess Champion, surpassing the record previously held by Russian legend Garry Kasparov. Kasparov won the title at 22 in 1985, a feat that remained unmatched until Gukesh’s triumph in Singapore. Overcome with emotion, Gukesh was seen in tears after his historic victory, as the global chess community rallied to congratulate the young champion.
This victory marks a significant milestone for both Gukesh and Indian chess, as his success further elevates the profile of the sport in the country. As the chess world reflects on his achievement, Gukesh’s win is hailed as a defining moment in the history of the game.
