17-year-old Dommaraju Gukesh stands out as an inspiration in a time when youth engagement with social media is prevalent. Becoming India’s top chess player, he not only won the game but also surpassed a former champion.
Known for its abstract strategic training, chess is one of the toughest games. Gukesh’s journey started at the young age of 7, marked by a path of success, that led to surpassing his role model, Viswanathan Anand.
After a remarkable 36-year span, Gukesh’s journey redefines India’s chess history, captivating the aspirations of a new generation. His journey is really inspiring for young people, just like his efforts and skill. This article talks about Dommaraju Gukesh’s amazing journey.
Beginning and Journey for Gukesh
Gukesh was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in the year 2006. His mother, Padma, is a microbiologist, and his father, Rajnikanth, is an ENT surgeon. Gukesh was introduced to chess at a very early age, he started playing chess when he was just seven years old.
His natural talent for chess quickly became apparent as he started showing exceptional skills in the game. His ability to learn complex chess concepts and tricks at a young age set him apart from his peers. Recognizing Gukesh’s potential, his family and coaches provided him with structured training. This involved studying classic games, solving puzzles, practicing tactics, and learning various strategies.
Gukesh’s progress in chess had been marked by his participation in local, national, and eventually international chess tournaments. Playing against a wide range of opponents with different styles helped him improve and gain valuable experience. In chess, players can achieve titles like International Master (IM) and Grandmaster (GM) by earning specific performance norms in tournaments.
He worked towards achieving these norms through consistently strong performances. Gukesh received coaching and mentorship from experienced chess players & coaches who helped him refine his skills, work on his weaknesses, and navigate the complexities of professional chess. Gukesh’s most notable achievement was becoming a Grandmaster at the age of 12 years and 7 months in January 2019.
This achievement required a combination of high-level performance in tournaments and achieving specific rating thresholds. After becoming a Grandmaster, Gukesh’s journey continued with a focus on improving his skills, participating in higher-level tournaments, and gaining more exposure in the international chess world.
Achievements and Personal Life
In 2015, Gukesh won a chess contest for kids called the Asian School Chess Championships, and in 2018, he also won another championship for young players called the World Youth Chess Championships. He won five gold medals in 2018 in a competition called the Asian Youth Chess Championships.
He became almost the youngest Grandmaster, missing the record by just 17 days. But he did become the second-youngest Grandmaster ever in 2019 when he was only 12 years and 7 months old. He also won a chess competition called the Julius Baer Challengers Chess Tour in 2021, and in 2022, he played really well in a big chess event called the Chess Olympiad.
He even beat the best chess player in the world, Magnus Carlsen, when he was still a world champion. In 2023, He took part in a chess tournament called the WR Masters and did really well, almost winning first place.
Mad4India appreciates Dommaraju Gukesh for his incredible journey filled with hard work and for bringing a huge amount of inspiration to this generation. If you loved reading their story, you can visit his Instagram @gukesh.official.
Feature Image Source – Instagarm
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