'My parents, especially my mom, were particular...': Gukesh Dommaraju on handling fame post world championship

Gukesh Dommaraju on handling fame post world championship

Reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, India’s latest chess sensation, had never dreamt of becoming a professional chess player. He instead started the sport as a hobby. However, witnessing a live match between chess icons Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, when he was just seven left a lasting impression, and it gradually evolved him into the youngest world champion.

Speaking on iQOO Quest Talk podcast with Nipun Marya, Gukesh recalled: “My parents didn’t know chess could be taken as a career like that. I started it like a hobby.”

“My first teacher in school suggested to my parents that maybe I should start taking it a bit more seriously, and I can start playing tournaments,” the 19-year-old added.

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Continuing further, he reminisced one of his most cherished memories from 2013, when the World Chess Championship was held in Chennai. The venue was just 30 minutes from his home. “It happened between Vishy sir (Viswanathan Anand) and Magnus Carlsen, that was exactly when I started to learn chess. I can still clearly picture the moment… I went in, saw Vishy sir and Magnus playing inside the glass box, and thought to myself, I actually want to be in there and it happened like after 11 years.”

As per the young Grandmaster, chess is a sport humans can never truly master. “Chess gives you that freedom to keep exploring.”

Gukesh also threw light on how he has been soaking in the massive fame after the legendary feat in Singapore last December, where he defeated China's Ding Liren to be crowned as the new world chess champion. “Both my parents were very particular that no matter the achievements, if you’re not the same person, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “Especially my mom, from a very young age, she made sure I realise that.”