Indian chess star Gukesh welcomed as hero on return

Indian chess star Gukesh Dommaraju received a hero’s welcome in his hometown on Monday, four days after becoming the youngest world champion at the age of 18.

Hundreds of fans invaded the arrivals area of ​​Chennai airport, in southern India, to applaud the young prodigy in the middle of the television cameras.

“It means a lot to bring this trophy back to India”Gukesh Dommaraju told the press, garlands of flowers and his medal around his neck, while brandishing his cup.

“I can see what this means for India, I am happy to be here”he added, his hair strewn with petals thrown to celebrate his victory.

The Indian player beat China’s Ding Liren in a thriller on December 12 in Singapore last week, suddenly becoming a star in a country where sports fans are generally passionate about cricket.

These scenes that unfolded in Chennai, were reminiscent, albeit on a lesser scale, of the triumphant return of the country’s cricket stars with the T20 World Cup trophy.

“Inspiring”

Young supporters, most of them students at Gukesh Dommaraju’s school, held up signs and photos of their new hero, now more than ever nurturing the dream of becoming professional players like him.

When he won in Singapore, after almost three weeks and 14 intense games against Ding, 32, the Indian player burst into tears.

Naturally shy and reserved, more accustomed to the calm of tournaments than to this type of festive ceremony, on Monday he seemed almost overwhelmed by this welcome worthy of that of a rock star.

“You are incredible”he told his fans, before being quickly taken into a car covered with posters of him, alongside his father.

“You gave me so much energy”.

Born to a doctor father and a microbiologist mother in Chennai, Gukesh Dommaraju became India’s youngest grandmaster at the age of 12 years, seven months and 17 days: just ten years away. -just seven days for him to beat the world record for precocity at this level.

He began to gain fame in April by becoming the youngest winner of the prestigious Candidates Tournament, the gateway to the world championships.

He thus became the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand, five-time world champion, to win this title.

Gukesh Dommaraju will receive honors from the government of his home state, Tamil Nadu, and is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the capital, New Delhi, later this month.

Mr. Modi has already welcomed his “remarkable success”who said in a statement that “his triumph not only etched his name in the annals of chess history, but also inspired millions of young minds” pushing them “to dream big and pursue excellence”.