Gukesh Dommaraju Gets A Hero’s Welcome in India After Historic Chess Victory – Watch Video

World Chess Champion Gukesh D returned to India on Monday, days after making history at the 2024 FIDE World Championship in Singapore. The 18-year-old became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, surpassing Russia's Garry Kasparov's long-standing record, after defeating China's Ding Liren in a nail-biting final.

Gukesh received a hero's welcome at the airport, with officials from the Tamil Nadu government and the All India Chess Federation present to greet him. Speaking to ANI, he expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for all the support. It means a lot to bring back the trophy. I hope we can have a great time celebrating together in the next few days."

Amid cheers from fans and media, Gukesh said, "Your support gave me a lot of energy. It's an amazing feeling to win the world championship." He further added, "I could see the support and what it means to India. You guys are amazing."

Gukesh's triumph came after a thrilling match against Ding Liren, which was tied at 6.5-6.5 heading into the final game. Displaying remarkable composure, Gukesh secured a 7.5-6.5 victory to claim the title. The FIDE official X handle proudly announced, "Gukesh D is the YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION in history!"

Reflecting on his defeat, Ding Liren acknowledged his opponent's brilliance, stating, "I was in shock when I realised I made a blunder. I played my best tournament of the year and have no regrets. It's a fair result."

Gukesh is only the second Indian to win the world title after the legendary Viswanathan Anand, who has been instrumental in mentoring him through his academy. Anand's guidance played a significant role in shaping Gukesh's journey to the top.

The dramatic finale of the championship concluded an intense series, with Game 13 ending in a draw before the decisive final round.