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?

(a) I only
(b) II only ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Why the answer is (b)

• Statement I confuses two events: Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion in December 2024 by defeating China's Ding Liren in Singapore — not a Russian, and not in the Olympiad, which is a team event (India won gold at the 45th Olympiad in Budapest, 2024). Statement I is wrong.

• Statement II is correct: Abhimanyu Mishra of the United States became the youngest Grandmaster in history in June 2021 at 12 years 4 months, breaking Sergey Karjakin's record.

• Gukesh's record is as world champion (aged 18), while India's youngest Grandmaster is D. Gukesh's compatriot Praggnanandhaa's peer group — the two records should not be conflated.

• Hence II only, option (b).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) I only: Statement I is wrong: Gukesh beat Ding Liren for the world title; the Olympiad has no individual final.
(c) Both I and II: Statement I is wrong, so both cannot be correct.
(d) Neither I nor II: Statement II is correct: Abhimanyu Mishra is the youngest Grandmaster ever.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, held on 25 May 2025. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.