Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Gukesh Dommaraju

Discover the career path of Gukesh Dommaraju, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Gukesh Dommaraju is an Indian chess grandmaster and the current World Chess Champion. He is a chess prodigy, holding records as the youngest undisputed world champion and the youngest player to surpass a FIDE rating of 2750. He is also the third-youngest to cross 2700 Elo. Gukesh became a grandmaster at the age of 12, making him the third-youngest grandmaster in chess history.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2015: Asian School Chess Championships Win

In 2015, Gukesh won the under-9 section of the Asian School Chess Championships, marking an early achievement in his chess career.

March 2017: Gukesh Becomes an International Master

In March 2017, Gukesh became an International Master in chess, marking an early milestone in his career.

March 2017: Completes International Master Requirements

In March 2017, Gukesh completed the requirements for the title of International Master at the 34th Cappelle-la-Grande Open.

2018: World Youth Chess Championship Win and Asian Youth Chess Championship Golds

In 2018, Gukesh won the World Youth Chess Championship in the under-12 category and a record five gold medals at the Asian Youth Chess Championship.

January 2019: Gukesh Becomes Second-Youngest Grandmaster

On January 15, 2019, Gukesh became the second-youngest grandmaster in chess history at the age of 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days, only behind Sergey Karjakin.

June 2021: Wins Julius Baer Challengers Chess Tour

In June 2021, Gukesh won the Julius Baer Challengers Chess Tour, Gelfand Challenge, with a score of 14 out of 19 points.

August 2022: Individual Gold at Chess Olympiad

In August 2022, Gukesh won the individual gold medal at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai with a score of 9 out of 11, and was part of the India-2 team that won bronze.

September 2022: Silver Medal at Asian Games and FIDE Rating Over 2700

In September 2022, Gukesh was part of the Indian team that won silver at the Asian Games. He also reached a FIDE rating over 2700 for the first time, becoming the third-youngest to do so.

October 2022: Beats Magnus Carlsen

In October 2022, during the Aimchess Rapid tournament, Gukesh became the youngest player to defeat Magnus Carlsen, who was the reigning World Chess Champion at the time.

2022: Chess Olympiad Medals

In 2022, Gukesh secured a team bronze and an individual gold medal at the 44th Chess Olympiad, marking a significant achievement in his career.

2022: Silver Medal at the Asian Games

In 2022, Gukesh was part of the Indian team that won the silver medal at the Asian Games in the men's team competition, contributing to India's success in the event.

August 2023: Youngest Player to Reach 2750 Rating

In August 2023, Gukesh became the youngest player ever to achieve a rating of 2750, surpassing Magnus Carlsen's previous record.

September 2023: Top-Ranked Indian Player

In September 2023, Gukesh overtook Viswanathan Anand to become the top-ranked Indian chess player, a position Anand had held for 37 years.

September 2023: Gukesh Becomes Top-Rated Indian Player

In September 2023, Gukesh surpassed Viswanathan Anand to become the top-rated Indian player, ending Anand's 37-year reign at the top.

December 2023: Qualified for 2024 Candidates Tournament

In December 2023, Gukesh qualified for the 2024 Candidates Tournament, positioning himself as a challenger for the World Chess Championship.

October 2024: Enters FIDE Top Five

On October 1, 2024, Gukesh entered the top five in the FIDE rankings for the first time, following his success at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.

December 2024: Wins World Chess Championship

On December 12, 2024, Gukesh won the World Chess Championship against Ding Liren with a score of 7½–6½, becoming the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion.

2024: Candidates Tournament and World Chess Championship

In 2024, Gukesh achieved significant milestones, including winning the Candidates Tournament and successfully challenging Ding Liren to become the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion.

2024: Qualified for 2024 Candidates Tournament

In 2024, Gukesh qualified for the Candidates Tournament. He secured his spot by finishing second in the FIDE Circuit, as Fabiano Caruana had already qualified through the Chess World Cup.

2024: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

In 2024, Gukesh tied for first place in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, ultimately losing in the finals of the tiebreaker to Wei Yi after defeating Anish Giri in the semifinals.

2025: Grand Chess Tour and Norway Chess Tournament

In 2025, Gukesh participated in the Grand Chess Tour in Romania, finishing sixth. He also secured a notable victory against Hikaru Nakamura at the Norway Chess tournament.