D Gukesh, a teen chess sensation, arrived at his hometown to a rapturous welcome after winning the renowned Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto.
The 17-year-old Grandmaster created history by becoming the youngest challenger for the world title, earning praise from chess aficionados and enthusiasts all over the world.Well in advance of Gukesh’s arrival, hundreds of excited supporters, including pupils from Velammal Vidyalaya, his school, gathered at the airport to congratulate their hometown hero. There were cheers and ovation when Gukesh came out of the terminal, and his family gave him a hearty embrace.Amid the celebratory gathering, Gukesh addressed the media and conveyed his appreciation for the tremendous support he had gotten. “This return home makes me very delighted; it’s a unique accomplishment.He acknowledged the crucial roles his family, school, and sponsors had played in his accomplishment, saying, “I was in a good space since the beginning of the tournament. I had full confidence that I will emerge top in this tournament and luck was on my side as well.”
It’s encouraging to know that so many people value chess.Thank you to the government of Tamil Nadu. I am grateful to my coach, friends, family, sponsor, school, Amma, and Appa for supporting me and being a huge part of my victory in this competition, Gukesh continued.
Padma and Rajinikanth, his parents, applauded their son’s outstanding achievement with pride as they stood beside him.
In addition to securing Gukesh’s place in chess history, his victory at the Candidates Tournament created a new benchmark for Indian chess.Gukesh’s triumph marks a dramatic change in the chess world, surpassing the record held by the great champion Garry Kasparov. Chess fans all over the world will be watching his next matchup against the current world champion, Ding Liren, as it looks to be an exciting match.
As chess continues to gain popularity, Gukesh’s success serves as a motivation for aspiring players, especially in India. His triumph at such a young age is evidence of the talent and commitment that exist within the nation’s chess community. With chess players like Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa at the forefront, Indian chess appears to have more promise than ever.
Kasparov lauded Gukesh’s performance, comparing it to a “Telugu earthquake in Toronto” and emphasizing the important influence India’s participation in the Candidates Tournament had on the world chess scene. In addition to the remarkable performance of five Indian competitors—three men and two women—Gukesh’s triumph featured a noteworthy victory over fellow Indian talent R Praggnanandhaa, who is eighteen years old.
In January 2019, at the age of twelve years, seven months, and seventeen days, Gukesh became the youngest Grandmaster in India, which marked the beginning of his ascent to fame. Gukesh hit a high of 2758 in September of the previous year, and he currently has a FIDE rating of 2743.
