 "Newly-crowned chess world champion D Gukesh with his parents at an event in Chennai on Monday. PTI")
An 11-year-old Dommaraju Gukesh had stated in a now-viral interview that he dreamed of becoming the youngest world champion in chess history. Seven years later, he would end up fulfilling that dream following an incredible run that began with dislodging the legendary Viswanathan Anand as the top-ranked Indian chess player in August last year and culminated with an emotional triumph over Ding Liren in the FIDE World Championship in Singapore last week.
While many a kid of his age would harbour similar dreams, of flying across outer space or becoming the next Virat Kohli or Vishy Anand, it was Gukesh’s single-minded focus and determination that helped him turn his dream into a reality years later.
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Some of Gukesh’s neighbours spoke exclusively to Firstpost ahead of his return to his Chennai home on Monday, and their description of the teen chess prodigy and what he was like growing up perhaps explains his phenomenal rise at such an early age.
“Gukesh is a very young guy, a very determined guy. My very fond memory with him was… though we used to play cricket down the line here in the streets, he never used to play cricket with us,” said one neighbour.
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More Shorts“He was always very determined from class second – we would be playing cricket over here, he would be practicing chess right inside his house. So I think at the age of 18, what he has achieved today, he’s definitely a role model for every young Indian.
“For the past eight years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him properly ever. Only on special occasions,” he added.
Another neighbour described Gukesh as a “down to earth” lad and remembered her kids attending his birthday parties.
“Super delighted and happy to stand here, being a neighbour of Gukesh family. We have seen Gukesh growing up right from tiny tot. We have seen him always down to earth, driving his cycle and also celebrating his birthday functions with my children as well. We never thought that today he would be a world champion, but such a down to earth person.
“The moment the news came about his winning the chess, I was just going through the albums, and discussing with my children about his birthday celebrations. He used to visit out house often. From a tiny tot, today we see him to be a grown up boy,” she said.
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Gukesh received a hero’s welcome at the Chennai International Airport on Monday, four days after defeating Ding in 58 moves to seal a 7.5-6.5 triumph over the Chinese Grandmaster and become only the second Indian to be crowned world champion after Anand. He also became the first teenager to win the title, breaking Garry Kasparov’s record to become the youngest world champion of all time.