For 5 minutes after his exit from Gate A5 of the Anna Worldwide Airport on Monday, D Gukesh skilled what Mikhail Tal would have felt when he landed at Riga in 1960 after profitable the World Chess Championship as a 23-year-old.
Whereas in April, the 18-year-old had obtained a one-of-a-kind welcome after profitable the Candidates that put him within the World Chess Championship showdown with Ding Liren, on Monday his return was chaotic and past anybody’s management.
There have been a number of posters that reminded who he’s – ‘the brand new world chess champion D Gukesh’. Round 50 college students from his alma mater, Velammal Faculty, lined as much as type a guard of honour, with everybody holding a placard of their hand that learn: ‘Congratulations Gukesh’.
Watching the excitement that was build up, one of many bouquet store distributors moved his stall near the gate. Round 10 police personnel tried their finest to regulate the chaos even because the airport safety began placing up barricades to make sure the newly-crowned chess king marched into the ready automobile. Capturing all of it have been practically 100 lensmen, who had arrived practically two hours earlier than his arrival.
The second they have been ready for arrived when Gukesh, carrying the winners medal, walked out with the trophy in a single hand. Inside a second, schoolkids mobbed him, as chants of “Gukesh, Gukesh” echoed round. And very quickly, the state of affairs spiralled uncontrolled. Gukesh, who was unmoved on the 64 squares, was shoved and pushed round even because the barricades have been dragged alongside. Microphones popping from all instructions, flashlights blinding the eyes accompanied by the noise of digital camera shutters – it’s protected to say Gukesh struggled within the commotion.
#Gukesh arrives at Chennai airport after turning into the youngest world champion in #chess historical past.
🎥 by @venkatatweets#WorldChessChampionship | #DingGukesh https://t.co/fDMRvjQfpq pic.twitter.com/9XBCsk5vgQ
— Specific Sports activities (@IExpressSports) December 16, 2024
The unique plan to deal with the media can be ditched rapidly as now the armed personnel have been extra involved about Gukesh security. Ultimately, he managed to get into the automobile amidst petals thrown in his common path.
Contained in the SUV, Gukesh would gasp for breath. At the same time as his mother and father struggled to open the door, a few newsmen got here knocking on the window pane for a fast remark, which Gukesh would oblige. And within the subsequent minute or two, the automobile sped away, prompting a chase for the trailing media autos on the 18km journey to his college.
Watching all of it was J Meghanatha Reddy, member secretary of SDAT (Sports activities Growth Authority of Tamil Nadu), which had performed an vital function that couldn’t be neglected. In December 2023, when Chennai was recovering from Cyclone Michaung, they obtained a singular request. With all doorways closing on Gukesh to qualify for the Candidates, the SDAT would organise the Chennai Grandmasters occasion to offer him one final shot.
“We had lower than per week to place the occasion in place. We needed to establish a venue and although it overshot the price range by Rs 40 lakh, the SDAT and the Tamil Nadu Authorities did the whole lot to make the occasion occur,” Reddy recollected. Gukesh would go on to win the event and hasn’t appeared again since.
Degree-headed champ
On Monday, as soon as Gukesh reached a spacious corridor to deal with the media, he was garlanded by MVM Velmohan, the correspondent of Velammal Establishments. By now, Gukesh appeared settled within the firm of recognized faces, which included his proud academics and Velavan Subbiah, who because the chess coordinator, accompanied the Indian GM to occasions abroad.
(LEFT) Gukesh felicitated at his college along with his mother and father; (RIGHT) Gukesh will get mobbed by cameramen and followers as he tries to depart the Chennai Airport. (PHOTOS: Venkata Krishna B)
“My dream was to turn into the youngest world champion. I’m very joyful to realize this aim and are available dwelling,” Gukesh stated. “I’m very joyful to see how proud our nation is. I wish to thank everybody who supported me. I hope I can get pleasure from my time right here. It’s a very emotional second for me.”
Nevertheless, Gukesh comes throughout as a really down-to-earth younger man, who is aware of there’s nonetheless lots left to realize.
“There are quite a lot of robust gamers. I nonetheless have quite a lot of enchancment to do. Gamers like (five-time world chess champion) Magnus (Carlsen) maintain motivating me to work tougher. Though it is a massive achievement, and I do know it comes at a really younger age, I believe there’s nonetheless a really lengthy option to go. Hopefully in the future, I get to turn into the very best participant on the planet,” the 18-year-old stated.
He additionally credited thoughts coach Paddy Upton for his contribution.
“Within the World Championship, it’s not solely about chess. There’s quite a lot of different issues as effectively. Paddy has had expertise in high-level sports activities and high-level efficiency in numerous sports activities. For me, the conversations that we had and the options that he has given me for this match and for me as an individual to develop myself, has been crucial.”
As questions got here from all corners, Gukesh, sitting alongside his mom Padmakumari, would sport a glance that confirmed that the standard household from Chennai was nonetheless getting used to a World Champion at dwelling. As Gukesh saved answering one question after the opposite, she would break right into a smile every so often, refusing to take her eyes off her son. As chaos returned as soon as once more when Gukesh bought off the dais to move dwelling, sans police personnel and bouncers, his father Rajinikanth would come to the rescue, fending away the lensmen and reporters.
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