All posts tagged: Indian chess champion

Manu Bhaker and Gukesh among Khel Ratna recipients at National Sports Awards

Manu Bhaker and Gukesh among Khel Ratna recipients at National Sports Awards

Published by Webster

In a grand ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, shooter Manu Bhaker and teenage chess prodigy D Gukesh were awarded the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu during the National Sports Awards on Friday. Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist, made history by becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic edition. Her outstanding performances in the 10m air pistol events last year earned her this top honor. Eighteen-year-old Gukesh achieved another historic milestone by becoming the youngest world chess champion, defeating China’s Ding Liren recently. He is only the second Indian to claim the title after the legendary Viswanathan Anand. The Khel Ratna was also conferred upon Indian men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, who played a vital role in securing bronze at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and Paralympic gold medalist Praveen Kumar, who triumphed in high jump despite being born with a physical disability. This year’s National Sports Awards also celebrated 32 athletes with the Arjuna Award, 17 of whom were …

Meet man behind D Gukesh’s rapid rise

Meet man behind D Gukesh’s rapid rise

Published by Webster

MVM Velmohan recalls the day nearly 10 years ago when he first saw a boy who had impressed the chess co-ordinator of Velammal School, the educational institution he owned. “Velavan Subbiah said this boy has the potential to emulate Viswanathan Anand and wanted us to assist him financially,” Velmohan says about the day he met D Gukesh for the first time. A decade later, one can safely say that the confidence wasn’t misplaced as Gukesh became the youngest-ever Chess World Champion, beating Ding Liren in Singapore last week. Velmohan was at hand when Gukesh reached the pinnacle of the chess world. Last Friday, after Gukesh secured the winning point, Velmohan took the next flight to Singapore. An opportunity to witness Gukesh being crowned wasn’t to be missed. And as scores of lensmen hustle to grab a picture of the new king of 64 squares on his return to Chennai, Velmohan is standing in a corner, soaking in the moment. As security guards extricate Gukesh from the melee, Velmohan dusts off the garlands from the 18-year-old’s …

World Chess Championship: Chennai comes out in big numbers to welcome its newest hero Gukesh | Chess News

World Chess Championship: Chennai comes out in big numbers to welcome its newest hero Gukesh | Chess News

Published by Webster

For five minutes after his exit from Gate A5 of the Anna International Airport on Monday, D Gukesh experienced what Mikhail Tal would have felt when he landed at Riga in 1960 after winning the World Chess Championship as a 23-year-old. While in April, the 18-year-old had received a one-of-a-kind welcome after winning the Candidates that put him in the World Chess Championship showdown with Ding Liren, on Monday his return was chaotic and beyond anyone’s control. There were multiple posters that reminded who he is – ‘the new world chess champion D Gukesh’. Around 50 students from his alma mater, Velammal School, lined up to form a guard of honour, with everyone holding a placard in their hand that read: ‘Congratulations Gukesh’. Watching the buzz that was building up, one of the bouquet shop vendors moved his stall close to the gate. Around 10 police personnel tried their best to control the chaos even as the airport security started putting up barricades to ensure the newly-crowned chess king marched into the waiting car. Capturing …

Youngest World Chess Champion’s Grand Homecoming

Youngest World Chess Champion’s Grand Homecoming

Published by Parlour News

Gukesh: ‘My desire to win is probably stronger than my fear of losing… I’m a bit of a risk-taker’ India’s D Gukesh during the Closing Ceremony of the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024, in Singapore. (FIDE/Eng Chin An via PTI Photo) In Singapore, there were multiple times when he pressed for the game to go on even when he was in a worse position on the board. Twice he declined a draw offer from his opponent even when he was in a worse position on the board. Asked about appetite to take risks in games that had everything riding on them, Gukesh said: “My desire to win is probably stronger than my fear of losing. Maybe it’s because of my young age. I’m a more ambitious player. From the initial few games, it was clear that Ding was not taking on the chances that he was given. So I had a bit more freedom to push. I felt the freedom to push my luck a bit. He was doing great at defending tenaciously. But he …