GUKESH, KING AT 18

It's hard to imagine that his mind-boggling journey started less than two decades ago.

- Susan Ninan

• Eleven years back, the title was taken away from India... I really [wanted] to be the one to bring it back... There is nothing better than doing this for myself...and country.

• It took a while to realise that I blundered. I think I played my best tournament in the year. I could have been better, but it's a fair result...

For, on Thursday, 18-year-old D Gukesh stepped into history and immortality the undisputed world chess champion; the second Indian to win the title after his mentor, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand; and as the youngest to claim the crown, beating a mark set in 1985 by a 22-yearold Garry Kasparov when he defeated Anatoly Karpov.

When he became a member of this pantheon of legends, Gukesh could scarcely believe his eyes.

In what looked like a potentially drawn final classical game, reigning world champion Ding Liren, playing White, cracked and blundered by playing 55...Rf2, with his bishop trapped on a8. Gukesh widened his eyes, did a mental double-take, got up from his chair, and paced a bit to collect himself. When he sat back down, there was a smile spreading through his face. He knew his boyhood dream had been realised.

Ding, too, realised his blunder and was stewing in agony. Once they shook hands, the enormity of what he had achieved descended on him and the stoic Gukesh broke down into a full-blown sob. "I probably got so emotional because I did not expect to win the position...I'm not someone who shows emotions but I guess this one can be forgiven," he said later.