Singapore, Dec 12 (NationPress) On the day of his monumental victory, Gukesh Dommaraju, recognized as the youngest World Chess Champion, extended his gratitude to his parents Dr. Rajnikanth and Dr. Padma for the numerous sacrifices they made to support his chess aspirations.

Immediately after achieving the pinnacle of chess by defeating Ding Liren from China in the World Chess Championship final with a score of 7.5-6.5, Gukesh reflected on how much his parents have given up to help him realize his dream.

"My parents are both passionate about sports but were unable to fulfill their own dreams. They resolved to do everything possible to assist me in pursuing my ambitions, regardless of the field I chose. Coming from a modest background meant they had to make significant sacrifices to support my journey," Gukesh stated during the post-match press briefing.

Gukesh's father, Dr. Rajnikanth, is an ENT surgeon, while his mother, Dr. Padma, is a microbiologist. They put their careers on hold to support Gukesh in various tournaments both in India and internationally. The financial burden of hiring trainers was another major challenge, as his parents arranged for Grandmaster Vishnu Prassana and later engaged foreign coaches for important competitions.

Expressing his appreciation, Gukesh recalled the first words his father said to him after emerging from the soundproof glass chamber where the games were held: "Congratulations." Although his mother was not present, she is scheduled to arrive the next day. "They have sacrificed so much, and I want to acknowledge them," Gukesh added.

Reflecting on when his dream of becoming a World Champion began, the 18-year-old shared that it was sparked when he watched five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand lose to Magnus Carlsen in the 2013 World Championship Final in Chennai.

"Watching that match in 2013, from the stands, I imagined how incredible it would be to be in that glass box one day. When Magnus won, I wished to bring the title back to India," he recounted.

"This dream has been the most significant aspect of my life for over a decade. Achieving this for myself, my loved ones, and my country is an unparalleled accomplishment," Gukesh remarked.

He expressed that breaking Garry Kasparov's record as the youngest World Champion holds immense significance for him.

"It probably meant a lot to that 8-year-old version of me. At this point, I’ve stopped focusing too much on records. However, I remember a famous video from 2017-2018 where I declared my ambition to be the youngest World Champion, and now that it’s a reality, it feels incredible," he said.

Gukesh also acknowledged his chess seconds, including Pentala Harikrishna of India, and commended Ding Liren for his competitive spirit during the match.