Consider the following statements:
- I.In the finals of the 45th Chess Olympiad held in 2024, Gukesh Dommaraju became the world's youngest winner after defeating the Russian player Ian Nepomniachtchi.
- II.Abhimanyu Mishra, an American chess player, holds the record of becoming world's youngest ever Grandmaster.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) II only
Gukesh D did become the youngest World Chess Champion in December 2024, but by beating China's Ding Liren in the World Championship match, not in the Chess Olympiad and not against Ian Nepomniachtchi. Abhimanyu Mishra of the USA remains the youngest person ever to earn the Grandmaster title.
- ✗ I Gukesh's record came in the 2024 World Chess Championship, where he defeated China's Ding Liren at 18. The Olympiad is a team event with no such final, and his opponent was not Nepomniachtchi.
- ✓ II Abhimanyu Mishra (USA, born 5 February 2009) became a Grandmaster on 30 June 2021 at 12 years, 4 months and 25 days. FIDE, the International Chess Federation, confirms he is the youngest Grandmaster in history.
Remember · Gukesh D, at 18, is the youngest World Chess Champion (beat Ding Liren, December 2024). Youngest Grandmaster ever: Abhimanyu Mishra (USA, 2021, aged 12 years, 4 months, 25 days).
Sources
- DD News (Prasar Bharati): Gukesh beats China's Ding Liren to become youngest-ever World Champion in chess history (12 December 2024) ↗ “India’s D. Gukesh etched his name in history by dethroning China’s Ding Liren to claim the 2024 World Chess Championship on Thursday, becoming the sport’s youngest-ever titleholder at 18 years old.”
- International Chess Federation (FIDE): Abhimanyu Mishra is the youngest Grandmaster in history, 30 June 2021 ↗ · reference work “is the youngest Grandmaster (GM) in history, breaking the record formerly held by Russian GM Sergey Karjakin … At age 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days, Mishra earned his third and final norm”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·