MUMBAI: Gukesh Dommaraju took a moment to collect his thoughts, as he looked back at a memory from 11 years ago. He recited the details about how he sat in the audience, watching Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand competing against Magnus Carlsen for the 2013 World Chess Championship title in Chennai.
"When I was in the stands, looking inside the glass box, I thought it would be so cool to be inside one day," Gukesh, the world chess champion, said in the post-match press conference of the 2024 World Championship in Singapore. "When Magnus won, I wanted to be the one to bring back the title to India. This dream that I had more than 10 years ago has been the single most important thing in my life so far...and now that this is not just a dream but reality, it feels I think that 8-year-old kid would be really happy."
On Thursday, Gukesh achieved just that. Beating defending champion Ding Liren in the final game of the contest, the 18-year-old from Chennai became India's second world champion in classical chess, and the youngest-ever to win the coveted crown.
Once Ding resigned, the usually stoic Gukesh burst into tears as the weight of his achievement sank in. "I got emotional because I did not expect to win from that position," he said.
"I thought we will play for five-six hours and it will be a draw. I was already preparing myself to go through the huge tiebreak fight and suddenly I saw the chance. Suddenly it was all over and I achieved my dream."
In April, Gukesh won the Candidates tournament - the gateway to the World Championship match - against all odds. But since then, the teenager has given himself every opportunity to win the title, including teaming up with renowned mental coach Paddy Upton.
The South African had famously worked with the Indian cricket team that went on to win the 2011 ICC World Cup, and recently worked with the Indian men's hockey team that won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 13, 2024 من Hindustan Times Punjab.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 13, 2024 من Hindustan Times Punjab.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Dallewal critical, med tests conducted after SC order
Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered the 24th day on Thursday, fell down and fainted for 8-10 minutes with doctors describing his condition as critical.
Modi, Shah hit back in raging Ambedkar row
Political slugfest intensifies
UP Police announce ₹25,000 reward for accused in Sunil Pal, Mushtaq Khan abductions
The Meerut Police in Uttar Pradesh has announced a reward of ₹25,000 for information on Lavi Pal, the main accused in the abductions of comedian Sunil Pal and actor Mushtaq Khan.
Kapil Sharma says 'Don't spread hate' amid criticism for alleged racist remark against Atlee
Comedian-talk show host Kapil Sharma has been facing intense criticism for seemingly making a joke about filmmaker Atlee's appearance on his comedy-talk show, The Great Indian Kapil Show.
India has every reason to be proud: Shahana on Santosh being shortlisted for Oscars nom
Actor Shahana Goswami's film Santosh, has inched closer to being nominated for the International Feature Film category in the 2025 Academy Awards.
ZELENSKY TO MEET EUROPEAN LEADERS AS TRUMP LOOMS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was to meet Nato chief Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss \"next steps\" on Russia's war as Donald Trump prepares to take office as US president.
Israeli strikes kill 20 in Gaza
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR AMID TRUCE TALKS
Relief for quick comm as CCI not keen to step in
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is unlikely to open an investigation of its own accord into allegations of anti-competitive practices by quick commerce companies including Zepto, Instamart, and Blinkit, according to two persons privy to the development.
CEO death: Luigi Mangione indicted for murder
Luigi Mangione was indicted in New York on first-degree murder charges for the fatal shooting of UnitedHealth Group Inc. executive Brian Thompson in a shocking case that prosecutors said amounted to an act of \"terrorism\".
ZELENSKY TO MEET EUROPEAN LEADERS AS TRUMP LOOMS
Russia has arrested Akhmad Kurbanov of Uzbekistan, who was promised $100,000 and resettlement in an EU country, by Ukraine's security service for the killing