Who is Gukesh Dommaraju?

Summary

The story follows Gukesh, the youngest ever World Chess Champion, whose journey began at the age of six in Chennai. Raised by his dedicated parents, Gukesh faced financial struggles and sacrifices to pursue his passion. His father, a former surgeon, supported him in every way, even riding a bicycle in freezing temperatures to tournaments due to financial constraints. Gukesh's dedication paid off, making him part of India's golden generation in chess. With a meditative approach to the game, he became an idol to many, and his victory marked the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice, proving the strength of his unwavering commitment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gukesh became the youngest World Chess Champion in history, marking a major milestone in the chess world.
• 😀 Born on May 29, 2006, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Gukesh's parents are Dr. Padma Kumari, a microbiologist, and Dr. Rajinikanth, an ENT surgeon.
• 😀 Gukesh was introduced to chess at the age of six and began honing his skills at school, where over 2000 players were trained.
• 😀 He stopped attending school full-time after class four to focus entirely on chess, with his parents supporting his decision.
• 😀 Gukesh's father quit his job as a surgeon to accompany him to chess tournaments, while his mother worked hard to provide financially.
• 😀 Financial struggles were a constant challenge for Gukesh and his family, with sacrifices made for his chess journey, including crowd-funding campaigns.
• 😀 One memorable sacrifice involved Gukesh and his father riding a borrowed cycle for 4 km in freezing temperatures to reach a tournament in Denmark.
• 😀 Gukesh’s idol, Viswanathan Anand, inspired him to pursue his dream of becoming the world champion after seeing Anand lose to Magnus Carlsen.
• 😀 Gukesh is part of India’s golden generation of chess players, alongside stars like Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and his sister Vaishali.
• 😀 His mental strength and composure have been praised, with coach Paddy Upton calling him a 'champion human being' off the board.

Q & A

What significant achievement did Gukesh Dom Raju accomplish?

Gukesh Dom Raju became the youngest World Chess Champion in history.

Where was Gukesh born and when?

Gukesh was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on May 29, 2006.

What was Gukesh's introduction to chess?

Gukesh started playing chess at the age of six when he was introduced to the game at his school.

How did Gukesh's family support his chess career?

Gukesh's family made significant sacrifices, including his father leaving his job as a surgeon to support Gukesh's participation in tournaments and his mother becoming the sole breadwinner.

How did Gukesh's parents handle financial struggles for his chess career?

Gukesh's family faced financial struggles, relying on prize money and crowdfunding campaigns to fund his chess tournaments.

What was a memorable sacrifice Gukesh's family made during a tournament in Denmark?

During a tournament in Denmark, Gukesh and his father couldn't afford a cab, so they borrowed a cycle from the hotel and cycled about 4 km in freezing temperatures to reach the tournament venue.

Who was Gukesh's chess idol, and how did it influence his career?

Gukesh's idol was Viswanathan Anand. He was inspired to become a world champion after watching Anand lose to Magnus Carlsen when Gukesh was just seven years old.

How did Gukesh contribute to the popularity of chess in India?

Gukesh was part of India's 'golden generation' of chess players, alongside others like Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali, and Arjun Erigaisi, contributing significantly to the rising popularity of chess in India.

What is Gukesh's relationship with his mental coach, Paddy Upton?

Paddy Upton, a renowned mental coach, worked with Gukesh, stating that Gukesh is not only a champion on the chessboard but also a champion human being.

How did Gukesh feel upon becoming the youngest World Chess Champion?

Gukesh appeared composed but took some time to absorb the fact that he had achieved his dream of becoming the youngest World Chess Champion.