New Delhi, Dec. 2: On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with D. Gukesh, the recently crowned World Chess Champion. He also spoke with the 18-year-old Chennai native, who made history earlier this month by becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion.
PM Modi stated on X: “I had a great conversation with @DGukesh, the chess champion and pride of India! After several years of close communication, his tenacity and commitment are what most impress me about him. His self-assurance is incredibly motivating.
“In fact, I remember watching a video of him a few years ago, in which he predicted that he would become the youngest world champion. It is now evident that his own efforts have made this happen.”
The youngest-ever World Chess Champion also received praise from PM Modi, who said, “Gukesh embodies calmness and humility in addition to confidence.” When he won, he was calm, enjoying his success and knowing exactly how to shake off this hard-won triumph. The topic of our discussion today was the transformational power of yoga and meditation.
The prime minister also acknowledged his parents’ contribution to his accomplishments. “Every athlete’s parents are crucial to their success,” he stated. I gave Gukesh’s parents props for being there for him no matter what. Numerous parents of young people who aspire to pursue athletics as a career will be inspired by their commitment.
“I am also delighted to have received from Gukesh the original chessboard from the game he won. The chessboard, autographed by both him and Ding Liren, is a cherished memento,” PM Modi posted on X.
On December 12, D. Gukesh defeated Chinese player Ding Liren in a 14-game competition in Singapore to become the youngest-ever world champion in chess.
Gukesh became the second Indian to win the World Chess Championship after dethroning the champion by 7.5 to 6.5 after taking advantage of a mistake made by Ding in the winner-take-all 14th game.
Gukesh’s victory over Ding marked the beginning of a new chess king and made him the 18th world champion in the game’s more than 100-year history. He was also the youngest, breaking Garry Kasparov’s record of earning the title at the age of 22.
Five-time champion Viswanathan Anand lost the World Chess Championship title to Magnus Carlsen of Norway in Chennai in 2013, making Gukesh the second Indian to win the title in less than ten years. Ding defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi after Carlsen abdicated the throne in 2023.
In 2013, Magnus Carlsen of Norway defeated five-time champion Viswanathan Anand in Chennai to win the World Chess Championship, making Gukesh the second Indian to do it in less than a decade. After Carlsen abdicated the throne in 2023, Ian Nepomniachtchi was defeated by Ding.
After 13 matches over three weeks, Ding was eager for the quick and blitz tiebreakers because he had successfully repelled the young Indian challenger’s bold strategies to push the match to a draw
