SPORTS: INDIAN CHESS KING GUKESH RETURNS TO HERO’S WELCOME
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After becoming the youngest world champion at the age of just 18, India’s chess sensation Gukesh Dommaraju came home Monday to a hero’s welcome.
As Gukesh exited the airport following his victory in winning the World Chess Championship, hundreds of fans gathered in the arrivals section of Chennai airport, cheering with banks of television cameras.
“It means a lot to bring back the trophy to India,” Gukesh told reporters, with garlands of flowers draped around his neck, brandishing the glittering trophy in his hand.
“I can see the support and what it means to India, I am glad to be here,” he added, as celebratory petals thrown into the air smothered his hair.
In a thrilling final match in Singapore last week, Gukesh defeated China’s Ding Liren, instantly becoming a sensation in a country where cricket is typically the only sport that sports fans are interested in.
Though on a smaller scale, the scenes in Chennai, South India, were reminiscent of the nation’s cricket stars’ victorious return home with the T20 World Cup trophy this year.
Young supporters, many from Gukesh’s school, carried pictures and signs of their new hero, whose triumph has bolstered aspirations to play chess professionally.
Gukesh broke down in tears as he defeated the 32-year-old Ding in Singapore, following 14 games and over three weeks of fierce combat.
Gukesh, who is usually reserved and more used to quiet and cerebral tournaments than wild celebrations, looked almost overwhelmed by the rock star welcome on Monday.
“You guys are amazing,” he told fans, before he was swiftly ushered into a car smothered in posters of him, alongside his father. “You gave me so much energy”.
Gukesh’s father, a doctor, has been by his son’s side on a rollercoaster ride that took off when he became India’s youngest grandmaster aged 12 years, seven months and 17 days — among the youngest in the history of the game.
In April, he became the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Candidates Tournament, clinching his entry into the world championship.
Gukesh surpassed a record held by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, who won the title at age 22, after Ding, 32, faltered at the final hurdle of his title defence.
He is the second Indian to hold the title after five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, who also hails from Chennai.
Gukesh will be honoured by the government of his home state Tamil Nadu, and is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the capital New Delhi later this month.
Modi has already praised his “remarkable accomplishment”, saying in a statement that “his triumph has not only etched his name in the annals of chess history but has also inspired millions of young minds to dream big and pursue excellence.”
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