Chennai, Dec 16: Newly-crowned world chess champion D. Gukesh was greeted with an electrifying reception as hundreds of fans, Tamil Nadu government officials, and representatives from the national chess federation turned up at the Chennai airport on Monday to celebrate his historic achievement.
The 18-year-old prodigy recently defeated China’s Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 in Singapore, becoming the youngest-ever world chess champion. Gukesh broke the decades-old record previously held by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, cementing his name in chess history.
Heartfelt Gratitude from the Champion
Expressing his joy, Gukesh addressed the crowd and media:
“It’s an incredible feeling to win the world championship. The overwhelming support from everyone has been a tremendous source of energy for me,” he said as fans and reporters vied for his attention.
Second Indian to Win the Title
Gukesh joins the legendary Viswanathan Anand as the only Indian players to claim the prestigious world chess title. Notably, Anand has played a significant role in mentoring Gukesh, guiding him through pivotal moments in his career at his academy in Chennai.
Tamil Nadu, known as the chess capital of India, celebrated Gukesh’s win as another feather in its cap, reaffirming the state’s prominence in nurturing world-class chess talent.
