The ‘multi-millionaire” tag does “mean a lot” to new world champion D Gukesh but he doesn’t play the game for material gains but for that unbridled joy, which he has been able to retain since the time a chess board used to be the “coolest toy for him. Gukesh, the in 18 age from Chennai,
Gukesh to 11.45 crore prize money becoming world chesse champion is now richer by Rs 11.45 crore which he will receive from FIDE as prize money for beating Ding Liren of China in the final. Gukesh’ father Rajnikanth gave up his career as an ENT surgeon to accompany his son on the circuit while mother Padmakumari who is a microbiologist, became the sole earner of the family.
What exactly does being a multi-millionaire mean to him, asked FIDE. Gukesh said, “It means a lot. When I got into chess, we (as a family) had to make some hard decisions.
My parents had gone through financial and emotional hardships. Now, we are more comfortable and parents don’t need to think about those things,” Gukesh told FIDE in an interview.
Personally, money isn’t the reason I play chess,” he said. He always tries to remember why he started playing the game when he got his first chess board.
I am still the kid who loves chess. It used to be the coolest toy, the reticent world champion explained.
For him, his parents mean the world. Gukesh’s dad doubles up as his manager by taking care of all the off-board activities and allowing him to concentrate on the game, while his mother is the emotional and spiritual pillar of strength.
“She (mother) still says, I will be happy to know that you are a great chess player but I would be happier to hear that you are a greater person,” Gukesh said.
Still in his teens, Gukesh feels that as a student of the game, the more he learns about chess, the more aware he will become of how little he knows.
“Even the greatest of players make a lot of mistakes. Even though technology is so advanced, there is still much to learn about chess. I strongly believe that the more you learn something, the more you realize you don’t know that thing.
“Whenever I am on the chess board, I feel I learn something new. It’s a process of unlimited beauty.” Journey and Destination both are “important”
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