Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin Friday announced a cash prize of Rs 5 crore for 18-year-old chess prodigy D Gukesh, who made history by becoming the youngest-ever World Chess champion. The announcement followed Gukesh’s stunning victory over reigning champion and Chinese chess grandmaster Ding Liren in a closely fought FIDE World Chess Championship final in Singapore Thursday.
The teenager clinched the title with a 7.5-6.5 score in the 14th and final game, cementing his position as a global chess sensation. Gukesh hails from Chennai, the city often called the “Chess Capital” of India.
“Congratulations to @DGukesh on becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at 18! Your remarkable achievement continues India’s rich chess legacy and helps Chennai reaffirm its place as the global Chess Capital by producing yet another world-class champion. Tamil Nadu is proud of you!” Stalin posted on X platform, soon after Gukesh’s victory.
Stalin personally called Gukesh to commend him for his historic achievement. “Your victory is a source of pride not just for Tamil Nadu but for the entire nation,” he said, according to a government release. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who also oversees Tamil Nadu’s sports development initiatives, proposed the cash prize, which the chief minister promptly approved, the statement said.
Gukesh was given Rs 10 lakh by the state government for the preparation for the World Chess Championship.
The government statement said the state’s sustained support for chess and sports in general, noting Tamil Nadu’s pivotal role in organising the 44th Chess Olympiad in 2022. Having built a robust ecosystem for chess players over the years, Gukesh’s victory is seen as another milestone for the state’s growing reputation as a global chess powerhouse, with Chennai producing a lineage of champions, including five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand.
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