A video shared by ChessBase India on its X (formerly Twitter) handle captured world champion D Gukesh getting mobbed by kids, as he entered the playing hall for Round 4 of FIDE Grand Swiss 2025. The tournament is being played in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and it attested to the young champion's rising global popularity.
There was no surprise in the whole thing, for Gukesh is a champion in a truly global sport. Chess has reach far beyond a handful of Commonwealth nations and youngsters can identify themselves with someone who is of their age, smart, good-looking and, most importantly, a topper in his profession.
The World Champion @DGukesh mobbed by kids as he enters the playing hall for Round 4 of FIDE Grand Swiss!Video: @ram_abhyudaya#chess #chessbaseindia #gukesh pic.twitter.com/v6vFELHSty
— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) September 7, 2025
Magnus Carlsen, the legend and arguably the greatest chess player of all time — Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov might say ‘hello’ — remains the most iconic and popular figure in the sport despite the fact that, after five consecutive world titles, he is done with the classical format. Gukesh has all the qualities to become the great Norwegian’s heir apparent. At just 18 years of age, he became the youngest chess world champion. And his victory has coincided with India's rising global stature. Sport is soft power and the boy from Chennai is a symbol of a rising India.
At RevSportz’s conclave earlier this year — Trailblazers 3.0 — Gukesh was asked about his rising popularity. He replied with humility, saying how he felt overwhelmed to see more and more youngsters taking to chess. Then, he became a fanboy and spoke about how big a fan he is of MS Dhoni, Chennai's ‘Thala’. The reality is that, in places where cricket is almost unheard of, fans easily recognise Gukesh.
“Gukesh impressively surmounted every obstacle and opponent in his path, especially considering his age, and nothing more can be asked. My thoughts on the historical world championship lineage with Magnus outside are known, but that is not the story today,” Kasparov had posted on his X handle after the Indian defeated China's Ding Liren to become the world champion.
“India is a nation with an unlimited pool of human talent, combined with the freedom to explore and develop it. The future is bright not only in chess. The summit has been reached and now the goal must be to raise it even higher for the next ascent. Congratulations again. Upward!” Kasparov, the six-time world champion, had added.
Gukesh is the face of Indian chess at the moment, marching on, loosely wearing his popularity.
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