For several years before Ding Liren became the 17th world chess champion last year, D Gukesh's laptop wallpaper featured the faces of the previous 16. With the 18-year-old crowned as the 18th on Thursday, it is only now starting to sink in for the youngest world champion.
"Now that I think of it, that I'm part of this amazing group of players, it's a huge honour for me," Gukesh said in a video interview with FIDE in Singapore after beating Ding for the title. "But I think I still have a long way to go to achieve the kind of greatness Vishy sir (Viswanathan Anand), Magnus (Carlsen) and all these players have."
That Gukesh is a humble champion has been for all to see. The teenaged Indian got up to applaud his Chinese opponent after Ding was done talking in the post-match press conference moments after his championship ended. When it was his turn to speak, Gukesh appreciated the fight from Ding and made it clear that the title notwithstanding, he didn't think he was the best in the world.
"That is Magnus Carlsen," he had said.
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