The tense encounter ended with a visible display of frustration from Carlsen, who struck the table, knocking over several pieces. According to Chess.com , Carlsen had been on track to secure a second victory against Gukesh in the tournament, potentially increasing his lead by another three points.

Gukesh, who earned his grandmaster title at the age of 12 and is currently the third-youngest grandmaster in history, reflected on the dramatic turnaround. "There wasn't much I could do. It was just clearly lost... luckily he got into a time scramble,” he said after the match.

The two had previously faced off in the opening round of the 10-round tournament in Stavanger, where Carlsen emerged victorious. However, Gukesh managed to secure a win in round six of the tournament after more than four hours of play.

With the win, he earned three points, bringing his total to 8.5 and moving him into third place behind Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.

Gukesh made headlines in December 2024 when he became the youngest world chess champion at 18, defeating China’s Ding Liren in the final of the World Chess Championship held in Singapore. His victory broke the previous record held by Garry Kasparov, who won the title at 22 in 1985.

Following his championship win, Gukesh described it as the fulfilment of a decade-long dream inspired by watching Carlsen win the world title in 2013.

The chess marathon began on April 17, alongside U.S. National Master Shawn Martinez.

“For all the dreamers! We’ve officially BROKEN THE RECORD,” Onakoya shared in a jubilant post on X (formerly Twitter).

Adding, “Every move, every hour, a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance.”

Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, had the aim of raising $1 million toward building a free school for homeless and underserved children in Nigeria.

“If you had 70 hours to change the world , what would you do? Not for applause. Not for records. But for the quiet dreamers who need to see someone leap - so they know it’s possible to fly,” he wrote.

This record-setting is yet another milestone for the 29-year-old who, in 2024, played chess for 60 hours straight in a personal challenge.

At just 18 years old, Gukesh has already made history by becoming the youngest-ever chess world champion, a title he secured after defeating China's Ding Liren last month.

Following his historic win, Gukesh has expressed his desire to see chess flourish in India. He envisions a future where chess is not only a popular sport but also an integral part of the country's cultural and educational fabric.

Gukesh believes that with the right support and infrastructure, India can produce many more world-class chess players.

As the year draws to a close, here’s a recap of some of the global sporting events that took place in 2024:

AFC Asian Cup 

The AFC Asian Cup, which kicked off at the beginning of the year in Qatar from 12 January to 10 February, saw the 2022 World Cup host defend their title on home soil. Qatar defeated Jordan 3-1 in the final to clinch their second trophy.

Africa Cup of Nations

The AFCON, which also happened at the start of the year from 13 January to 11 February, witnessed the host nation, Ivory Coast, fight against all odds in a tournament comeback after they almost exited in the group stages. The Ivorians defeated Nigeria in the final—coming back from behind to hand the Super Eagles their first defeat of the tournament in a 2-1 victory to secure their third title.

Paris 2024 Olympics 

The Paris 2024 Olympics—which opened on July 26 and ended on August 11—saw thousands of athletes from various countries feature. Seasoned athletes like Simone Biles showcased why they were the best at what they do, whilst newcomers like Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo announced themselves on the Olympic stage with a historic debut. New records were set, and historic milestones were reached as Paris passed the Olympic torch to Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games.

Paris 2024 Paralympics 

Shortly after the end of Paris 2024, the Paralympics followed from August 28 to September 8, with thousands of para-athletes competing in various events. The Paralympics was hailed as hugely successful, with millions in ticket sales. Like the Olympics, the Paralympic Games also witnessed athletes break milestones—Nigerian athlete Mariam Eniola Bolaji, an 18-year-old, became the first African to win a badminton medal at either the Paralympic or Olympic Games.

Copa America

Lionel Messi and his boys secured a record-breaking 16th Copa America title for Argentina after defeating Colombia at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. The Copa America—the oldest continental football tournament in the world—took place from June 20 to July 14 in the United States. The Albicelestes defended their title against 15 other teams from the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

Formula One World Championship

Yet another thrilling season of the Formula One World Championship, as racers began their season on March 2 in Bahrain and ended on December 8 in Abu Dhabi. The championship featured a record total of twenty-four Grands Prix held across the globe. Dutch driver Max Verstappen, representing Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT, claimed his fourth World Drivers' Championship title. Meanwhile, McLaren-Mercedes secured their ninth World Constructors' Championship, marking their first victory in this category since 1998.

World Chess Championships

The World Chess Championship 2024 pitted defending champion Ding Liren of China against Indian challenger Gukesh Dommaraju between 25 November and 12 December 2024 in Singapore. Ultimately, the 18-year-old Gukesh defeated the world champion to become the youngest undisputed world champion.

UEFA European Football Championship

Football did not come home as many English fans were once again made to wait for that first Euro title. Like that night in Wembley, the ‘Italian Job’ in the Euro 2020 final, the Three Lions suffered defeat—this time against a revamped Spaniard side that eliminated host Germany and heavyweight France. Many would argue that the tournament, which took place from June 14 to July 14, not only secured Spain its fourth title but also became the main catalyst in Rodri overtaking Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. to win the Ballon d’Or. 

Gukesh beat China ’s Ding Liren last week in Singapore during an intense final match.

His victory has made him a national hero in a country where cricket usually dominates. Many young fans at the airport said his win had inspired them to dream of pursuing chess as a career.

Gukesh is the second Indian to win the chess world title, after Viswanathan Anand. His achievement has earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called it "remarkable" and said it will inspire millions of young people. Gukesh is set to meet Tamil Nadu leaders and the prime minister later this month.

The tournament lasted 14 matches, with Gukesh making a remarkable comeback after losing the opening game.

The final match was heading for a draw until Ding made a critical mistake and Gukesh claimed victory. The young champion called this moment the realisation of a decade-long dream inspired by watching Magnus Carlsen win the title in 2013.

Gukesh told the AFP that he plans to stay at the top of the chess world and hopes to achieve the same greatness as Carlsen, the highest-rated chess player in history.

Erdogmus 's rise in the chess world has been nothing short of meteoric. At the age of 12 years, 9 months, and 29 days, he earned the grandmaster title, becoming the fourth youngest player in history to do so. This achievement has now made him the world’s youngest grandmaster, marking his place among the youngest grandmasters in chess history.

Carlsen, the reigning world champion and often referred to as the "Mozart of Chess," was once a chess prodigy himself. He became a grandmaster at 13 years, 4 months, and 27 days.

Currently, the title of the youngest grandmaster in chess history is held by Abhimanyu Mishra from the US, who achieved it at 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days in 2021, surpassing Ukraine’s Sergey Karjakin , who held the record for 19 years after becoming a grandmaster at 12 years and 7 months.

In addition to his recent triumph, Erdogmus is set to represent Türkiye at the Chess Olympiad in September as the youngest player in the national team.

Arriving at the airport on April 24, Onakoya was greeted with enthusiastic cheers, singing, and dancing, as supporters celebrated his extraordinary achievement. The atmosphere was filled with pride and admiration for the chess master, whose dedication and determination have inspired many across the continent.

"The moment I stepped out of the plane in Abuja last night and was almost mobbed by customs officials for a selfie, it immediately dawned on me that my reality was a different one now. This will definitely take a lot of getting used to," Onakoya wrote on his X page.

The marathon, which commenced in the heart of Times Square in New York City on April 17, was not only to etch his name in chess history but also to raise funds for children's education initiatives across Africa. With a goal of $1 million, Onakoya's marathon attempt garnered widespread attention and support from chess enthusiasts and philanthropists.

Throughout the marathon, Onakoya engaged in a gripping battle of intellect against Shawn Martinez, a US chess master, adhering to stringent guidelines set forth by Guinness World Records. The rules mandated continuous play by two participants for the entire duration, with only brief breaks permitted.

While Onakoya's record attempt awaits official confirmation from Guinness World Records, the chess community and the public at large have already hailed him as a true champion.

Onakoya, 29, surpassed the previous record of 56 hours, nine minutes, and 37 seconds, set in 2018 by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebo and Sjur Ferkingstad. Playing against Shawn Martinez, a US chess master, Onakoya adhered to strict guidelines mandating continuous play by two participants for the entire duration. The players were allowed only five minutes of break for every hour of gameplay.

Support for Onakoya's endeavour poured in both online and at the scene, with spectators entertained by African music as the marathon progressed. Despite the nature of the challenge, Onakoya emphasised that the record attempt was "for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education."

Meanwhile, the Guinness World Record has yet to publicly comment on Onakoya's achievement, as the organization is known to typically take several weeks to verify new records.

Tinubu congratulates Onakoya

However, Onakoya's accomplishment has already sent waves worldwide, drawing praise from notable figures such as Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement, Tinubu congratulated Onakoya for his extraordinary feat, hailing him as a symbol of Nigeria's resilience, self-belief, and ingenuity on the global stage. He commended Onakoya for leveraging his passion for chess to drive positive change, particularly in providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged African children .

He wrote, “I congratulate Tunde Onakoya on setting a new world chess record and sounding the gong of Nigeria's resilience, self-belief, and ingenuity at the square of global acclaim. I celebrate this Nigerian Chess Champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa for his rare feat, but especially for the reason driving this compelling demonstration of character, which is raising funds for African children to learn and find opportunity through chess.”

His goal is to raise $1 million to expand access to education for millions of disadvantaged children throughout the continent. Onakoya aims to achieve this by engaging in a gruelling chess marathon, facing off against multiple opponents over 58 consecutive hours, all within the iconic New York Times Square.

The Chess in Slums convener aims to surpass the current record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, set by Norway's Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingtad in 2018.

Taking to Instagram, Onakoya expressed the daunting nature of the challenge, stating, "This is by far one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but one thing I know for sure is I will not be alone through it all. Need everyone’s support now more than ever to raise awareness and support for the incredible work we do at chess in slums and the gift of chess."

This competition follows Onakoya's remarkable performance earlier this year when he engaged in a simultaneous chess match against 10 players in Germany.

Below are some social media reactions:

The previous record which was set just a month earlier by Leonid Ivanovic from Serbia, who, at 8 years of age but five months older than Kaushik, defeated 60-year-old Bulgarian grandmaster Milko Popchev at the Belgrade Open. Ivanovic became the first player under the age of nine to defeat a chess grandmaster.

"It felt really exciting and amazing, and I felt proud of my game and how I played, especially since I was worse at one point but managed to come back from that,” Ashwath is quoted by Chess.com .

Ashwath Kaushik is an Indian by birth hailing from Singapore, who already made a name for himself by becoming the World Under-8 Rapid Champion in 2022.

Ashwath's father said his son learned the rules of chess at the age of four. He is quoted by Chess.com to have said “It’s surreal as there isn’t really any sports tradition in our families. Every day is a new discovery, and we sometimes stumble in search of the right pathway for him.”

The young chess prodigy now joins a list of the youngest chess players to have achieved the feat of defeating a grandmaster before reaching the age of 10.