PM Modi Honors D. Gukesh, the Youngest World Chess Champion as 'India's Pride'

New Delhi, Dec 28 (NationPress) On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had the pleasure of meeting the recently crowned World Chess Champion D. Gukesh. The 18-year-old from Chennai recently made headlines by becoming the youngest individual to hold the title of World Champion in chess earlier this month.

PM Modi took to X to share his thoughts: "I had a wonderful interaction with chess champion and India’s pride, @DGukesh! I have been engaging with him for several years, and what stands out is his unwavering determination and commitment. His confidence is genuinely motivating."

He further reminisced about a video he watched a few years back where Gukesh expressed his ambition to become the youngest world champion—a dream that has now materialized through his relentless efforts.

During the conversation, PM Modi commended Gukesh for embodying calmness and humility. He noted, "After winning, Gukesh remained composed, enjoying his achievement while fully grasping the significance of his hard-fought victory. Our discussion also touched on how yoga and meditation can bring about transformative change."

The Prime Minister acknowledged the crucial role of Gukesh's parents in his journey, stating: "Every athlete's success is significantly influenced by their parents. I praised Gukesh’s parents for their unwavering support, which will encourage many parents of aspiring young athletes dreaming of a sports career."

He expressed his delight in receiving the original chessboard from Gukesh's triumphant match, which was signed by both Gukesh and Ding Liren. PM Modi referred to it as a treasured keepsake.

On December 12, D. Gukesh etched his name in history by defeating Ding Liren from China in a 14-game match held in Singapore, thus becoming the youngest-ever World Champion in chess.

Gukesh capitalized on a mistake made by Ding in the decisive 14th game, winning the match 7.5 to 6.5 and earning his place as only the second Indian to become the World Chess Champion.

With this victory, Gukesh became the 18th World Champion in chess history, breaking the record previously held by Garry Kasparov, who was 22 when he won the title, marking the dawn of a new era in chess.

Gukesh is the second Indian to claim the World Chess Championship title, a decade after Viswanathan Anand lost the title to Magnus Carlsen in 2013. Carlsen's abdication of the title in 2023 allowed Ding to triumph over Ian Nepomniachtchi.

In the climactic 14th game of the World Chess Championship, Ding aimed for a draw after initiating the Reversed Grunfeld variation of the Zukertort Opening. However, a grave blunder by the 32-year-old from China changed the tide of the match.

After a fierce contest spanning 13 games over three weeks, Ding was looking forward to the rapid and blitz tiebreakers, as he had effectively countered the aggressive strategies of the young Indian challenger, steering the game towards a more draw-friendly position.