D Gukesh, youngest world chess champion, arrives in Chennai to grand welcome

Gukesh grew to become India’s second world chess champion, following within the footsteps of four-time world champion Viswanathan Anand by beating defending champion Ding over the course of two weeks in Singapore. At simply 18 years outdated, Gukesh has grow to be a hero in India for his exploits on the Candidates match, the place he outlasted a number of the greatest names in chess, earlier than he held his nerve to tug off a well-known win over a way more skilled participant within the Chinese language grandmaster.

With these accolades below his belt, Gukesh returned to his hometown of Chennai, the place he has grown up and cherished all through his life. Befitting of his achievements on the FIDE championships, a brand new native hero was swarmed upon his return, with cameras capturing the crush of followers congratulating and receiving the teenaged world champion on the airport in Chennai.

Adorned with ceremonial garb upon his return, Gukesh spoke to reporters for the primary time following his return on the airport itself. “Thanks for all of the help. It means quite a bit to deliver again [the] trophy to India,” stated Gukesh to reporters exterior the airport. “Thanks for this reception. I hope we can have a good time within the subsequent few days celebrating collectively.”

Gukesh, who holds a place because the third-youngest ever grandmaster, gaining that title at simply the age of 12, acquired a hero’s welcome as he was mobbed by reporters and followers alike. Some of the dominant gamers within the sport during the last two years, the FIDE championship was the jewel on the crown for Gukesh’s extraordinarily profitable final two years.

He additionally helped India to gold on the forty fifth Chess Olympiad in 2024, himself successful the person gold as one of the best board one participant in Budapest this 12 months. He headlines a stellar younger group of grandmasters in India, together with Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa

Taking a second to thank his followers, Gukesh additionally stated to reporters on the Chennai airport: “I might see the help and what it means to India. You guys are superb. You gave me a lot vitality.”