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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Leonard Barden

Chess: Gukesh, 17, shocks favourites to become youngest challenger for title

Dommaraju Gukesh at the Candidates in Toronto
Dommaraju Gukesh won the Candidates by half a point and will take on Ding Liren for the world crown. Photograph: Michał Walusza

Gukesh Dommaraju became, at 17, the youngest ever Candidates ­winner and world championship challenger on Sunday after edging out the favourites Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi in a marathon six-hour final round in Toronto.

Gukesh will now meet the holder, China’s Ding Liren, in a 14-game series for the world crown from 20 November to 15 December. The world No 1, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, abdicated his title in 2023 after a 10-year reign.

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