16-year-old Mishra youngest to down 19-year-old reigning world champ Gukesh

In a jaw-dropping upset at the FIDE Grand Swiss tournament in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 16-year-old Abhimanyu Mishra has made history by defeating reigning World Champion D Gukesh, the youngest world champion in chess history. This remarkable win not only showcased Mishra's exceptional skill, but also earned him the distinction of being the youngest player to defeat a reigning world champion in classical chess, breaking a 33-year-old record previously held by Grandmaster Gata Kamsky.

All eyes on Abhimanyu Mishra! 👀

The youngster surprisingly took down the World Champion Gukesh D in Round 5 of the #FIDEGrandSwiss pic.twitter.com/CoSzKG2JoA

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 8, 2025

About Mishra

Abhimanyu Mishra, hailing from New Jersey, USA, with Indian-origin parents, has been a chess sensation since childhood. Introduced to chess by his parents at just 2 years old, Mishra's rapid ascent is a testament to his talent and dedication. He became the world's youngest Grandmaster at 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days old in June 2021, surpassing Sergey Karjakin's record that stood for 19 years. Playing with black pieces, Mishra triumphed over Gukesh in 61 moves.