GM Ding Liren is the current world champion. Ding finished second in the 2022 Candidates Tournament and earned the right to play for the crown when GM Magnus Carlsen abdicated the throne. Ding then defeated GM Ian Nepomniachtchi in the tiebreaks of one of the most thrilling World Championship matches in recent years to earn the crown.
GM Gukesh Dommaraju is the youngest Challenger in chess history. The Indian prodigy qualified to play in the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament through the FIDE Circuit. Considered an underdog by many, Gukesh had a stunning performance, winning five games and losing only one to win the Candidates by a half-point margin.