At just 18, Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju stunned the world by defeating China’s Ding Liren to become the youngest World Chess Champion in history. While his December 2023 triumph marked a new era in chess, it also brought criticism from some quarters. The champion recently shared his mature approach to handling negativity.
Record-Breaking Journey to the Top
Gukesh’s 7.5-6.5 victory at the FIDE World Championship in Singapore capped an extraordinary rise. In 2023, he surpassed legend Viswanathan Anand as India’s top-ranked player, becoming only the second Indian world champion.
Post-championship, Gukesh maintained his stellar form, finishing runner-up in a major tournament and climbing to World No. 3. “Every tournament is a new challenge,” he says, demonstrating his growth mindset.
Also Read: FIDE April 2025 Rankings: Magnus Carlsen Holds #1 Spot, India’s Gukesh Stays at #3
Staying Focused Amid Criticism
The young champion faced scrutiny after his title win, including comments from Magnus Carlsen about the final’s gameplay quality. Gukesh addresses this with remarkable poise: “When you compete at the highest level, criticism comes with the territory. I choose to focus on my game rather than the noise.”
His limited social media presence helps filter negativity, though he admits, “The occasional harsh comment just fuels my motivation to improve.”
However, Gukesh doesn’t stop aiming high after leading India to Chess Olympiad gold and the world championship win. As he prepares for future battles, the chess world watches with bated breath.
Also Read: How Tamil Nadu Became India’s Chess Hub: The Winning Strategy
