What does an eight-year-old boy usually dream of? Maybe a new video game, a favorite toy, or a fun trip. Perhaps meeting their favorite sports star. But Gukesh Dommaraju had a very different dream: he wanted to become the world chess champion.
This dream was born when Gukesh watched Indian chess legend Viswanathan ‘Vishy’ Anand play in the 2013 World Chess Championship in his hometown, Chennai. Gukesh’s father took him to the match, and the young boy was mesmerized by the atmosphere. Seeing the respect and support Anand received made a huge impression on him. However, Anand lost the match to Magnus Carlsen. “I felt bad that Anand Sir lost and thought I should bring the title back to India someday,” Gukesh said. That spark turned into a burning desire over time.
18-year-old Indian prodigy Gukesh D is the new FIDE World Champion and the 18th in the line of champions, the youngest ever in history © FIDE
Fast forward to December 12, 2024, in Singapore, Gukesh’s dream came tr...
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