D Gukesh: From World Chess Champion to India No. 1 and World No. 3

D Gukesh: From Struggles to Success – A Journey to Becoming India No. 1 and World No. 3

Since his World Chess Championship victory in December last year, D Gukesh has been on a remarkable journey, reaching new heights in the world of chess. The 18-year-old prodigy recently achieved the title of India No. 1 and climbed to the prestigious position of World No. 3 in the FIDE rankings.

Gukesh’s success story is not just about his talent and hard work, but also about the sacrifices and support of his parents. At the India Today Conclave 2025, he shared the early struggles his parents faced to help him pursue his passion for chess. “I remember my parents’ friends sponsoring me to play tournaments abroad. It was quite difficult at that time, and we had a lot of help from very, very nice and selfless people. Now, the last year was financially very good for us,” he said.

The young chess champion expressed his gratitude for the financial stability his success has brought to his family. “I think it means a lot to me that my parents don’t have to think about money anymore. We can lead a comfortable life, not struggle like before.”

After his recent victory against Ding Liren in Singapore, Gukesh participated in the Tata Masters in Wijk aan Zee, where he finished second after a tough tie-breaker round against R Praggnanandhaa. However, his performance at the Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam event was not as successful, with a winless run.

When asked about his thoughts on Freestyle Chess, Gukesh remained open-minded but emphasized the importance of classical chess. “I wish freestyle becomes big, but I don’t see it taking over standard chess. The history and legacy of classical chess give it more value. The World Championship cycle still holds the biggest importance for now. Freestyle is a great addition to classical, rapid, and blitz. But yeah, we just have to see how it works. I’m open to all,” he said.

Gukesh’s remarkable journey to becoming India No. 1 and World No. 3 has not only made him the youngest-ever world champion in history but also India’s second, following in the footsteps of the legendary Viswanathan Anand. Anand, who also played a crucial role as Gukesh’s mentor at WACA, deserves credit for guiding the young chess prodigy towards success.