Indian Grandmaster Gukesh D. made history by clinching victory at the FIDE Candidate Chess Tournament at just 17 years old, marking a remarkable achievement in his chess career. Upon his return home, Gukesh received a warm and grand welcome.
Gukesh’s triumph as the youngest winner of this prestigious tournament, held in Toronto, garnered widespread attention. Upon his arrival in Chennai on Thursday, a sizable crowd of fans eagerly awaited him at the airport.
Students from Velamal Vidyalaya, where Gukesh is enrolled, eagerly anticipated his arrival, patiently awaiting his presence for about an hour. As Gukesh’s flight time drew near, the crowd of fans at the airport continued to swell. Upon his emergence from the airport around three o’clock, Gukesh was immediately surrounded by enthusiastic fans who garlanded him, prompting police intervention to ensure his safety.
Among the welcoming crowd was Gukesh’s mother, Padma, a microbiologist, who beamed with pride upon seeing her son. Gukesh’s father, Rajinikanth, an ANT surgeon who set aside his practice to support his son’s chess journey, also accompanied him to Toronto.
Addressing the media outside the airport, Gukesh expressed his joy at returning home and reflected on his remarkable achievement. “I am very happy to return home; it is a special achievement. I was confident from the beginning of the competition. I believed I would win, and luck was on my side,” he remarked. Gukesh also expressed gratitude to various entities, including the Tamil Nadu Government, his parents, coach, school, sponsors, and supporters, whose unwavering support contributed to his success in the tournament.
