On Monday morning, Chennai’s airport was buzzing with excitement as thousands of fans gathered to welcome Gukesh Dommaraju, who had just returned from Singapore after winning the World Chess Championship. The 18-year-old chess prodigy made history by becoming only the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand to clinch this prestigious title.
Gukesh received a warm reception from the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) officials, as well as students from Velammal Vidyalaya, a renowned school that has produced numerous chess champions. “It’s so wonderful to be here. I can feel all your support, and I know what this victory means to India. You all are amazing, and you’ve given me so much energy,” he said, addressing the media at the airport.
Accompanied by his parents Padmavathi and Rajinikanth Gukesh was greeted with garlands and cheers as he made his way out of the airport. Fans and officials from the All India Chess Federation were there to celebrate his incredible achievement.
The celebration of Gukesh’s return featured lively performances from dancers and students holding banners to honor the newly crowned chess champion. To show their admiration, officials from the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) draped a shawl around Gukesh’s shoulders. A specially decorated vehicle, showcasing images of Gukesh along with the phrase “18 at 18,” was waiting to take him home, marking his achievement as the 18th undisputed world champion in classical chess. Gukesh secured his victory over China’s Ding Liren in a 14-game World Chess Championship series, with the final, game-changing win occurring on December 12, after Ding made a crucial error in the 14th game.
After the championship, Gukesh took some time to relax, exploring Singapore over the weekend to recharge following the demanding tournament. His parents, Padmavathi and Rajinikanth, joined him during the World Chess Championship’s closing ceremony, where it was an emotional moment for Gukesh as he touched the trophy for the first time, fulfilling a promise he had made to himself to wait for the official handover.
Overcome with emotion after Ding’s pivotal blunder, Gukesh teared up with joy but quickly regained his composure, recognizing the immense challenge his opponent had presented despite struggling with his form throughout the match.+
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