Gukesh also credited his parents for the sacrifices they made to support his dreams of becoming a chess player after becoming the youngest world champion in the history of the sport on Thursday.
read more
D Gukesh revealed advice from his mother that he has made his life’s mantra by
to become the youngest chess world champion in Singapore last Thursday. Gukesh had his
father Rajinikanth by his side when he defeated Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 in the FIDE World Chess Championship, becoming the 18th world champion and
fulfilling a childhood dream in the process.
Gukesh called his mother Padmakumari after leaving the arena following his victory in the 14th and final classical match of the World Championship, and was seen shedding tears of joy as he spoke to her in an emotional moment caught on camera by ChessBase India.
The 18-year-old also shared her mother’s heartfelt message, wishing her Gukesh to be a great chess player but an even greater person.
“My mother still says, ‘I’m very happy to hear that you’re a great chess player, but I’d be happier to hear that you’re an even greater person. It has been something that I really value a lot. I know I have many things to work on, but I am trying my best to become a better chess player and a better person,” revealed Gukesh.
Look at |
Diljit Dosanjh dedicates Chandigarh concert to WC winner D Gukesh
Both Gukesh’s parents had an important role to play in his rapid rise in the world of chess and made huge sacrifices along the way. His father Rajinikanth had to leave a lucrative career as an otolaryngologist to accompany his son to tournaments, resulting in mother Padmakumari, a microbiologist, becoming the sole breadwinner for the family. Thus, Gukesh’s family had to make several lifestyle changes to support his dream of becoming a chess star.
“We were not financially well off, and my parents faced significant struggles,” Gukesh said after his victory. “At one point in 2017 and 2018, we had so little money that my parents’ friends had to sponsor me. They even made lifestyle changes just so I could play in tournaments. Their sacrifices were huge,” Gukesh added.
