D. Gukesh, the newly crowned World Chess Champion, became a multi-millionaire after defeating China’s Ding Liren in the final, earning a prize of ₹11.45 crore from FIDE. Despite this significant financial windfall, Gukesh, an 18-year-old prodigy from Chennai, emphasized that money was never his motivation for playing chess.
Gukesh expresses his gratitude
In an interview with FIDE, Gukesh shared that his love for chess began when he first received a chessboard as a child, which he described as the “coolest toy”. He recalled the financial and emotional hardships his family faced when he started his journey in chess, with his father, Rajnikanth, giving up his career as an ENT surgeon to support him, and his mother, Padmakumari, becoming the sole earner of the family.
Gukesh expressed gratitude for his parents’ sacrifices and acknowledged that while the “multi-millionaire” tag means a lot, it is the joy and passion for the game that drives him. He stated, “I am still the kid who loves chess. It used to be the coolest toy.” His mother’s words, “I will be happy to know that you are a great chess player, but I would be happier to hear that you are a greater person,” have always resonated with him.
Despite his success, Gukesh remains humble and focused on continuous learning, believing that even the greatest players make mistakes and there is always more to learn. He views chess as a journey of “unlimited beauty,” where every game teaches him something new.
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