Prodigy to Pioneer: How Gukesh Inspires a New Generation
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Prodigy to Pioneer: How Gukesh Inspires a New Generation
Anwesha Ghosh
SY BSc Economics, 2023-2027
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Greatness starts young, as was seen when Gukesh’s father gave him a miniature chessboard. Little did anyone know that a simple gift would become the launchpad of a journey that would revolutionise Indian chess forever and make India the powerhouse of chess.
“The blunders are all on the board waiting to be made.” Keeping this in mind, Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest-ever world chess champion after defeating reigning champion Ding Liren in the decisive 14th game of the World Chess Championship match in Singapore on Thursday, 12 December.
His sacrifice and hard work were evident in every move that he played, culminating in scripting history when Ding Liren accepted defeat. The moment was so powerful that tears came running down for everyone who believed and supported him in his journey.
Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the chess capital of India, Gukesh set a record by becoming the second-youngest person to win the prestigious Grandmaster title at the age of 12 in 2019. He only missed breaking Sergei Kuryakim’s record by 17 days.
What makes Gukesh unique is that, at the age of seven, he developed an interest in this game because he thought it was cool and neither of his parents had any interest in that area. However, his school coach noticed his interest and taught him how to play. His parents supported his decision and made a lot of sacrifices along the way, including his father quitting his job to travel with him for tournaments and his mother becoming the sole earner for the household.
He even mentioned that he was first sponsored for his travel expenses and miscellaneous only after he became the grandmaster, and prior to that, his parents took care of all his expenses.
“Focus entirely on one thing—your passion—you can definitely shine.” This unwavering belief of Gukesh’s mother was the foundation of his success. His parents’ bold decision to homeschool Gukesh after 5th grade was met with a lot of skepticism. However, Gukesh backed them up at every step of the way by projecting confidence and discipline.
Gukesh says even when the world stood still during the pandemic, it was a “blessing in disguise” for his chess career. He ceaselessly won tournaments during and after the pandemic, which boosted his self-confidence, including the Olympiad in August 2022, where he won the individual gold medal on the first board in the open event at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai with a score of 9 out of 11.
His unique approach included studying strategies and opening ideas of even average players—a practice he found very fascinating. Even though he studied the tournaments of Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, his coach, cautioned him about harboring too much admiration for them, as he would have to play against them across the board someday.
He also had to get invited to different places in order to play tournaments, which required him to improve his rating. In order to do so, he played matches where the odds were against him; winning would earn him 5 points, and for a single loss, he would have to lose 89 points from his rating. This, however, only made him more determined and fearless in every approaching game.
Gukesh has always remained deeply connected with his roots and culture and has never been subtle about the trailblazers who came before him, like Vishwanathan Anand. At his historical final game in Singapore, where he became the youngest World Chess champion, he openly shared his spotlight with all those who helped him overcome his emotional barriers and paved the way to his success, defining him as a true champion rising to great heights without forgetting the foundation that made it all possible. He has also expressed his heartfelt thanks to his relatives, who helped him when he faced financial hardships and had no sponsors, and his family could not bear his expenses alone.
Gukesh’s win has not only reignited the spark in young minds to pursue passion-driven careers but also proved India to be a formidable chess powerhouse on a global stage.
“Every chess player wants to live this moment. I’m living my dream.” Gukesh said. He says with a lot of generosity, “If I can inspire people to take up chess or play a small part in its growth, that’s something I’m proud of.” Gukesh defied convention by becoming a successful chess player, demonstrating to young Indians that success can come from intellectual and artistic endeavors.
PM Modi congratulated Gukesh on his achievement and added, “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. My best wishes for his future endeavors.”
By outperforming chess legends from historically powerful nations like China, Russia, and the US, Gukesh has cast doubt on the notion that these countries are unstoppable chess powers. By changing the global chess narrative and showcasing India’s strategic ability on a global scale, his rise highlights India’s increasing influence in intellectual spheres.
In the upcoming tournaments, Gukesh is most likely to face tougher competition, and he might need to diversify and show his excellence in blitz and rapid chess. With that being said, Magnus Carlsen has stated that classical chess may not be the best measure of a player’s overall competence because it might be too forgiving, whereas rapid and freestyle games need actual versatility. With this perspective in mind, Gukesh prepares to confront Magnus in Stavanger from May 26 to June 6. The excitement doesn’t stop there; Gukesh will also face Carlsen in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Germany this February, promising a thrilling display of versatility and skill.
As Gukesh’s every move suggests, the beauty of a checkmate lies not in the final move but in the strategy that made it inevitable.