D. Gukesh: A Journey to Becoming the World’s Youngest Chess Champion
D. Gukesh, who made history as the youngest world chess champion by defeating China’s Ding Liren, owes much of his success to the unwavering support of his parents. They sacrificed their careers and even turned to crowdfunding to fuel his dreams. Gukesh, who envisioned his destiny at just seven years old, achieved it within a decade. At 18, he not only claimed the world championship title but also displayed near-flawless performances throughout an exceptional year.
Hailing from Chennai, Gukesh is the third youngest player to join the elite 2700 ELO rating club and the youngest to surpass the 2750 rating mark. The year 2024 has been monumental for him, marked by winning the Candidates Tournament, leading Team India to gold at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, and achieving the ultimate victory in Singapore by claiming the world title.
Gukesh’s chess journey began humbly in 2013 with hour-long lessons thrice a week—the same year Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand lost his world title to Magnus Carlsen. By 2017, Gukesh became an International Master after competing in France. Early milestones included gold medals in the Under-9 Asian Schools Championship and the Under-12 World Youth Chess Championship in 2018. His unyielding passion for chess led his parents to prioritize his training over traditional schooling after Class 4.
Gukesh broke the 2750 rating barrier the following year, although a disappointing quarterfinal exit at the World Cup temporarily closed the path to the World Championship. However, in December, the Tamil Nadu government organized a closed tournament. Gukesh’s victory secured him a spot in the Candidates Tournament, making him the third youngest qualifier in history after Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen.
Remarkably, Gukesh’s journey was accomplished without any sponsorship. Financial hurdles were overcome through prize money and parental crowdfunding. Despite these challenges, he surpassed his idol Viswanathan Anand to become India’s top-ranked player. Fittingly, Anand himself mentored Gukesh at the Westbridge-Anand Chess Academy (WACA), established during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Gukesh’s inspiring journey is a testament to his talent, hard work, and the steadfast support of those around him, solidifying his place among the legends of chess.
