In a delightful moment that has captivated social media, Aruna Anand, the spouse of renowned chess champion Viswanathan Anand, was seen playfully teasing world chess champion D Gukesh during the pre-wedding festivities of grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi and his fiancée, Nidhi Kataria.

This event coincided with the Tamil harvest festival, Pongal, where Gujrathi hosted a gathering of prominent Indian chess players, including Anand and Gukesh, at his home. The attendees were observed enjoying a lighthearted moment while engaging in a playful activity involving chess pieces and a round container filled with water.

In the video that has gone viral, Gujrathi, a member of the Indian men's chess team that secured a gold medal at the Olympiad in Budapest, and Kataria, a homoeopathic doctor, were seen competing by selecting chess pieces from the water-filled container. Gujrathi triumphed in the first round, while Kataria claimed victory in the second. Following this, Aruna Anand humorously remarked to her husband, "Anand, he is saying they are sharing the title," which prompted laughter from everyone present.

Gujrathi, known for his quick wit, responded, "But sharing the title is now the trend, isn't it?" To which Anand replied with humour, “If married couples have Armageddon, it doesn’t end well.”

In another amusing incident, an unidentified individual in the crowd turned to Aruna and jokingly inquired if a similar “marriage” could occur with Gukesh on the same day. As Gukesh conversed with another guest in the background, the person behind the camera quipped, “Everything is ready, only the girl is needed.”

Without hesitation, Aruna replied, “That (marriage) is fine. We can photoshop later as well,” eliciting another wave of laughter from the audience.

The playful exchange highlights the camaraderie and fun atmosphere that prevailed during the festivities, further cementing the close-knit nature of the Indian chess community.

Gukesh in a league of his own

Gukesh recently became the youngest-ever world champion when he defeated China's Ding Liren. He is only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to claim the title.

Following his success, Gukesh was chosen for the highest sporting honour in the country - The Khel Ratna award - along with shooter Manu Bhaker, hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.

Gukesh became the challenger for the world title after winning the Candidates Tournament when he was 17 in 2023.

The Chennai-based Gukesh had also become the top-ranked player from India last year to end Anand's 37-year run. Gukesh has recently achieved the remarkable distinction of becoming the youngest world champion in history by defeating China's Ding Liren. He is only the second Indian, following Viswanathan Anand, to attain this prestigious title.

In recognition of his outstanding accomplishment, Gukesh was awarded the Khel Ratna, the highest sporting honour in India, alongside notable athletes such as shooter Manu Bhaker, hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.

Gukesh earned the opportunity to challenge for the world title after triumphing in the Candidates Tournament at the age of 17 in 2023.

Based in Chennai, Gukesh also ascended to the position of the top-ranked player from India last year, thereby ending Anand's impressive 37-year tenure at the pinnacle.

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