D Gukesh shares thoughts on Rs 114500000 world championship prize money, ‘my parents had gone through…’

New Delhi: Becoming a “multi-millionaire” means a lot to D Gukesh, the new world chess champion, but he emphasizes that his passion for the game is not driven by material gains. Gukesh, the 18-year-old from Chennai, recently earned Rs 11.45 crore in prize money after defeating Ding Liren of China in the final. Gukesh’s journey to the top has been shaped by the sacrifices his parents made. His father, Rajnikanth, left his career as an ENT surgeon to travel with Gukesh, while his mother, Padmakumari, a microbiologist, became the sole breadwinner for the family.

When asked about the significance of his newfound wealth, Gukesh shared, “It means a lot. When I started chess, we had to make tough decisions. My parents went through financial and emotional struggles. Now, we’re more comfortable, and they no longer have to worry about these things.”

Gukesh’s Humility: ‘The More I Learn, The Less I Know’

Despite his success, Gukesh remains grounded. “I’m still the kid who loves chess. It was always the coolest toy,” he explained.

His parents remain his greatest influence. His father also manages his chess career, handling off-board responsibilities, while his mother is his emotional and spiritual support. “She always says, ‘I will be happy knowing you’re a great chess player, but I would be even happier knowing you’re a better person,’” Gukesh recalled.

Though still in his teens, Gukesh approaches chess with humility, constantly aware of how much there is to learn. “Even the greatest players make mistakes. Technology has advanced, but there’s so much more to discover,” he said. “The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. Chess is a process of unlimited beauty.”

While Gukesh values the journey of learning, he also stresses the importance of understanding the destination. “If I lose after playing a beautiful game, I feel sad. If I win despite playing poorly, I’m happy. I tend to focus on the result,” he said.

His desire to win outweighs the fear of losing, and he admitted to being surprised when Ding Liren agreed to a draw in the second game of the final. “I had more freedom to attack when he was defending. After my poor first game, I felt he could have pushed me harder, but it turned into a comfortable draw. I wasn’t too surprised by his decision to take safer routes.”

Gukesh’s Dancing Moment Goes Viral After Chess Olympiad Victory

Off the chessboard, Gukesh’s impromptu dance after the Chess Olympiad victory went viral, and now his friends tease him about it. “Before the Olympiad win, I would sit while my friends danced. After the win, the spirits were high, and I joined in. The video went viral, and now my friends say I have to dance with them,” he laughed.

Finally, Gukesh indulged in his comfort food of South Indian delicacies during the final in Singapore, and after a year without it, he’s ready to treat himself to some ice cream. “I haven’t had ice cream for a year. Maybe I’ll have one now,” he smiled.