Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik has launched a fierce attack after 18-year-old De Gukesh became the youngest world champion in history by beating holder Ding Liren in Game 14 of the World Chess Championship. After Gukesh won the championship in game 14, Kamnik called it “the end of chess”.
“No comment. Sad. End of chess as we know it,” Kramnik wrote in one of his posts on X.
At 18, the 18th world champion is four years younger than Garry Kasparov, who became the youngest world champion in 1985 when he defeated Anatoly Karpov.
Gukesh won Thursday’s match with the black pieces when Ding buckled under pressure and the commentators erred in a comfortable position, clinching the title in a final score of 7.5-6.5.
As the final game dragged into the fifth hour, Ding made a mistake that cost him the match, the match and the crown.
No comments. sad The end of chess as we know it
— Vladimir Kramnik (@VBkramnik) December 12, 2024
He called Ding’s mistake childish and wrote, “The Nevet still WC title was decided by a childish one-trick mistake.”
Former world champion Kramnik had earlier criticized the quality of chess played between Gukesh and Liren.
“Honestly, I’m very disappointed with today’s game (Game 6). Game 5 was also not of a very high standard, but today it was really – for a professional – it was a really poor game from both players. It’s a very disappointing level,” he said after Game 6.
“It’s such a strange game. Both players were making tactical mistakes one after the other. It’s like they don’t get the sense of the situation.
“Maybe I’m old school but it’s very basic! Of course, they’re both great players and great calculators. They calculate brilliantly.
“But I expect a little more from the world championship game, like ideas! Human game, human concept! If I want to enjoy chess as a game of calculation, I’d rather see the world championship of the chess engine!”
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