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Gukesh, who topped an excellent year with a win in Singapore opined that as important as the journey is, so is the destination and that is one of the reasons to be mindful of the result. The teenager reflected that his yearning to win wasn’t…Read More
D Gukesh. (X)
Indian GM D Gukesh, who scripted history by becoming the youngest ever World Champion with his hard-fought win over Ding Liren in the final of the World Chess Championship 2024 Final earlier in the week, also became nearly a eleven and a half crore INR richer with his victory.
While the 18-year-old recognised the value of the prize money that accompanies everything that goes along with the title, he opined that the monetary fund isn’t the be-all and end-all according to him as he reflected on days past when he was of the belief that a chess board was the coolest toy he could receive.
He also recollected the collective journey his family embarked on when he decided to make a career out of chess as his father Rajnikanth opted to give up his career as an ENT surgeon to accompany Gukesh on the circuit while his mum Padmakumari, a microbiologist, became the sole earner of the family.
“It means a lot. When I got into chess, we as a family had to make some hard decisions,” Gukesh said.
“My parents had gone through financial and emotional hardships. Now, we are more comfortable and parents don’t need to think about those things,” he added.
“Personally, money isn’t the reason I play chess,” he continued.
“I am still the kid who loves chess. It used to be the coolest toy,” the world champion explained.
For him, his parents mean the world. Gukesh’s dad doubles up as his manager by taking care of all the off-board activities and allowing him to concentrate on the game, while his mother is the emotional and spiritual pillar of strength.
In an MO typical of a South Indian household, he revealed that his mum desires that he be a good person before a good player.
“She still says, 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,” Gukesh said.
Gukesh also touched upon the school-of-thought that focuses on the being humble with each passing win.
“Even the greatest of players make a lot of mistakes. Even though technology is so advanced, there is still a lot to learn about chess. I strongly believe that the more you learn something, more you realise that you don’t know that thing,” he said.
“Whenever I am on the chess board, I feel I learn something new. It’s a process of unlimited beauty,” the 18-year-old added.
Gukesh, who topped an excellent year with a win in Singapore opined that as important as the journey is, so is the destination and that is one of the reasons to be mindful of the result.
“For example, if I played a beautiful game and lost, I would feel sad. And if I win despite not playing a great game, I will be happy. I tend to look at the result,” he said.
While a couple of experts seemed unimpressed with the quality of the games in the final, as the finalists settled for multiple draws in the championship clash, Gukesh reflected that his yearning to win wasn’t eclipsed by the fear of conceding a defeat.
“My desire to win is stronger than the fear of losing,” he said.
“I had a bit more freedom to attack as he was defending tenaciously,” he explained.
“When he went too easy on me in the second game after I played a horrible first game, I felt like he could have pushed me a bit but it was a comfortable draw.”
“It was not a huge surprise. He was tending towards safer routes, maybe he should have taken more chances.”
