It had been an unexpectedly close contest in Singapore with Ding Liren. When he won, the normally stoic Gukesh clasped his hands at the board and burst into tears.

Dommaraju has "long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12," The Associated Press said. He won the right to challenge Ding, 32, for the title when he triumphed in the Candidates tournament in April.