Checkmate at 18

The Chennai prodigy’s rise to the top profoundly reshapes the Indian and global chessboards

In the summer of 2013, a seven-year-old boy stood outside a glass enclosure at the World Chess Championship in Chennai, transfixed by the clash between Viswanathan Anand, India’s five-time world champion, and Norway’s Magnus Carlsen. The boy, Gukesh Dommaraju, watched in awe as pieces slid across the board inside the soundproof room. A decade later, at just 18 years old, Gukesh stepped into that very arena—only this time, as a competitor, not a spectator. 

Gukesh etched his name into history by recently defeating China’s Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship final in Singapore. The teenager’s victory made him India’s youngest world champion, heralding a generational shift in chess that could reshape the sport for years to come. 

Born in Chennai, a city often called the chess capital of India, Gukesh grew up in a family where ambition met meticulous planning. His father, Rajnikanth, a surgeon, and mother, Padma, a microbiologist, had no prior connection to chess but nurtured his burgeoning talent with unwavering dedication. When Gukesh’s exceptional talent became apparent at age seven, his parents made the ultimate sacrifices. Padma, once pursuing her own career, set it aside to become his unwavering support, traveling with him to tournaments and dedicating herself entirely to his growth. Rajnikanth, a doctor working long, exhausting hours, took on extra shifts to ensure the family’s financial stability, often sacrificing sleep and personal time to fund Gukesh’s training and travel. Their devotion, in the truest sense of the term, epitomized the proverbial selflessness of Indian parents striving to carve out a future for their child at any cost.

“They sacrificed everything for me,” Gukesh admitted in a rare emotional moment during a post-championship interview. “My mother gave up her dreams so I could chase mine.” Weekends became study sessions; vacations were replaced by international competitions and social gatherings became rare luxuries.

By the age of nine, Gukesh was competing internationally; by 12, he had dropped out of traditional schooling to focus entirely on the game.

“Chess is not just a sport for him—it’s his life,” says his coach, Grzegorz Gajewski, a Polish grandmaster who has also mentored Viswanathan Anand. Under Gajewski’s guidance, Gukesh’s game has evolved into a potent blend of aggression and strategic depth.

The culmination of years of preparation was on full display in Singapore. After losing the first game of the 14-match series, Gukesh rebounded spectacularly, leveraging his well-prepared openings to put Ding on the defensive. Gukesh’s poker-faced demeanour throughout the series, even in moments of high tension, belied his age. 

What sets Gukesh apart from his peers is his willingness to take risks. Twice during the championship, he declined to settle for a draw, preferring to push for victory—a trait more common among older, more experienced players. This daring attitude has drawn comparisons to Bobby Fischer, the maverick American who revolutionized chess in the 20th century.

Victory, however, was anything but easy. In the final game, with the scores tied, Gukesh capitalized on a rare blunder by Ding to secure the title. The moment the match ended, the teenager’s emotional restraint broke. He wept at the board, embraced his father, and later shared the moment with his mother via video call.

For Gukesh, humility has remained a hallmark of his personality. Despite his meteoric rise, he speaks sparingly and carries himself with an unassuming air. He continues to revere Anand, calling him an “inspiration” and “a guiding light.” His focus remains on the game, eschewing distractions common for teenagers. 

Chess has long been dominated by Russian and European players, but Gukesh’s ascent signals the arrival of a new global order. In recent years, India has emerged as a chess powerhouse, producing a crop of prodigies often referred to as the ‘children of Vishy.’ Gukesh is their brightest star yet, and his success is as much a personal triumph as it reflects India’s growing clout in intellectual sports. 

For the chess world, Gukesh’s rise heralds a new era. With other Indian talents like Arjun Erigaisi rapidly climbing the ranks, a future world championship contested entirely by Indians seems increasingly plausible. For now, though, Gukesh stands alone at the pinnacle, a testament to the power of discipline, daring, and dreams.