Since his triumph in the World Chess Championship last December, D Gukesh has been achieving remarkable milestones. The 18-year-old recently ascended to the position of India No. 1 and secured the World No. 3 ranking in the FIDE standings.

Gukesh recently participated in the India Today Conclave 2025, where he shared insights about the early challenges his parents faced to support his journey as a professional chess player. “I recall how my parents’ friends helped sponsor my participation in international tournaments. It was a challenging period, and we received significant assistance from many generous and selfless individuals. Fortunately, the past year has been financially rewarding for us,” he remarked.

“It holds great significance for me that my parents no longer need to worry about finances. We can now enjoy a comfortable lifestyle, free from the struggles we once faced.” Following his victory in Singapore against Ding Liren, Gukesh opted out of the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championship and made his return to competition at the Tata Masters in Wijk aan Zee, where he finished in second place after a tie-breaker loss to R Praggnanandhaa.

D Gukesh unsure about Freestyle Chess

Following the Tata Masters, he participated in the Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam event, where he experienced a series of losses. Regarding his performance in Freestyle Chess, he remarked, “I don’t think much about it. Freestyle is exciting, and I’m happy to play it. But it’s too early to say where it’s going. We’ve had just two serious tournaments in freestyle so far.”

“I hope freestyle gains popularity, but I do not foresee it replacing standard chess. The history and legacy of classical chess provide it with greater significance. Currently, the World Championship cycle remains the most important aspect. Freestyle serves as a valuable complement to classical, rapid, and blitz formats. However, we will have to observe its development. I remain open to all possibilities,” he further stated.

Gukesh’s triumph last year made him the youngest world champion in history and India’s second, following Viswanathan Anand. Anand also deserves significant recognition for his role as a mentor in WACA.

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