Chess has always been one of the best minds in history in terms of mind, strategy, and patience. In recent years, the new crop of prodigies from India has taken the game to another level, and India has emerged as a chess powerhouse. Gukesh Dommaraju is perhaps one of the most well-known young grandmasters who has leveraged his raw talent to produce stunning results on the chessboard.
One of India’s and the world’s chess’ brightest hopes is Gukesh Dommaraju. A young chess prodigy from Chennai, India, born on 29 May 2006, Gukesh has already secured numerous unbelievable records. And at just 12 years, 7 months and 17 days old, he turned into the third- perhaps recently the second, more youthful grandmaster (GM) ever in chess history, a testament to his considerable ability and devotion to the game. His rapid rise to the upper echelon of the chess world has been compared to greats like Viswanathan Anand, Magnus Carlsen and even Bobby Fischer.
Early Life and Background
Gukesh was born into an educated family that encouraged intellectual curiosity. His father, Dr Dommaraju Rajinikanth, is an ear, nose and throat surgeon, and his mother, Dr Padma Kumari, is a microbiologist. Neither of his parents had played chess, but they recognised their son as having a gift for it and indulged his interest. Gukesh started to learn chess at age seven as his parents signed up at a local chess academy. His early fifth-grade language arts test scores were low, making him a candidate for additional assistance, which, unfortunately for his teachers, could not dilute his innate ability to grasp complex strategies and tackle big problems.
Rapid Progress in Chess
Gukesh’s rise in chess was meteoric. He started winning age-group tournaments in India and soon made a name for himself on the international circuit. His ability to play shrewd tactical chess, his deep knowledge of chess theory, and his resiliency under high-pressure conditions made him emerge from the pool of young chess prodigies.
He became an International Master (IM) in 2018. In January 2019, he became a grandmaster a year later, falling 17 days short of a world record as the youngest GM in history. Despite this, however, his achievement was historic, putting him at the time as India’s second-youngest grandmaster.
Notable Achievements
So far, Gukesh has been showing talent after talent with phenomenal shows in elite events. Some of his major accomplishments are:
- World Youth Chess Championship (2018): Gukesh won the Under-12 category after demonstrating his supremacy in junior-level chess.
- Grandmaster Title (2019): Gukesh, one of the youngest players ever to obtain the title, established himself as a rising star of the chess world.
- Chess Olympiad (2022): His feat at the 44th Chess Olympiad almost instantly earned him fame as he represented India’s second team on the top board. He took eight wins in a row with a performance rating of more than 2900, one of the best in the tournament. He played exceptionally well and won a bronze medal for India in the event.
- Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen (2022): He dealt reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen his worst-ever result in a prestigious tournament.
- Tata Steel Chess (2023): Gukesh played in Tata Steel Masters 2023, one of the most esteemed tournaments worldwide, against some of the most powerful grandmasters.
- First Indian Player to Reach 2750 Before 18: Gukesh reached a FIDE rating 2750 in 2023, becoming the youngest Indian player to reach this milestone and surpassing Viswanathan Anand’s record.
- Qualifications for the FIDE Candidates Tournament (2024): As a result of this, Gukesh qualified for the Candidates Tournament.
- World Chess Championship (2024): Gukesh became the World Chess Champion after beating Ding Liren, the former World Chess Champion.
Playing Style and Strengths
Gukesh’s playing style is characterised by aggression and dynamics. He likes acute tactical positions in which he can capitalise on his opponent’s weaknesses with precise calculations. Unlike some of his contemporaries who gravitate toward positional play, Gukesh is more than willing to court danger, making his games notable for their entertainment value.
His opening repertoire is hugely varied, and he has been incredibly adaptable to the styles of his various opponents. His endgame technique has also greatly improved in recent years, becoming a complete player. And his mental strength is his biggest asset. Gukesh has shown a knack for bouncing back stronger after setbacks, a vital quality for every chess player at the top level.
Indian Chess Greats: To compare or not?
Gukesh’s progress in Indian chess has been likened to that of the five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand. Anand opened the door for Indian chess players to compete worldwide, while Gukesh is the new wave of Indian grandmasters who want to take Indian chess to the next level. His success has further led to comparisons with other Indian chess prodigies like Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi, all a part of India’s bright future in chess.
Challenges and Way Forward
As Gukesh embarks on further chapters of his chess career, he faces a few hurdles despite his prodigious talent and youthful success. Competing at the top level means needing to find new and improved ways of playing to stay one step ahead of your opposition, and slower-class grandmasters studying is a way to potentially catch up and develop. The pressures of competing at such a high level in a mentally taxing sport such as chess also necessitate a solid support system in terms of the quality of coaching and the mental preparation required to cope with high-level chess.
Conclusion
Beyond this, Gukesh is already a name put on the chess map. His incredible talent at a young age, his fearless style of play, and his drive to win have made him one of the brightest stars in chess today. Some may even remember him from the world chess scene when he flew through the ranks and became the youngest grandmaster in history. Gukesh leads a chess revolution as India becomes a chess powerhouse. He has already made history in chess, but his story is just beginning.
