India, March 13 -- D Gukesh, who has made history as the youngest World Chess Champion, visited the renowned Tirumala Temple in Andhra Pradesh with his family. The 18-year-old offered a symbolic gesture of devotion by shaving his head following his Darshan.

Gukesh triumphed over Ding Liren at the World Chess Championship held in Singapore last year and currently holds the third position in the FIDE rankings, making him the top player in India.

During his visit, Gukesh spoke with reporters and expressed his desire to visit the temple after his championship win in December. "I always wanted to come here after the World Championship, so I am very pleased and had a wonderful darshan," he stated.

He recently secured second place at the Tata Masters in Wijk aan Zee, where he was defeated by R Praggnanandhaa in the tie-breaker. However, he faced challenges at the Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, finishing without a win. His impressive performance at the Tata Masters propelled him to third in the rankings, trailing only Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.

"I must continue to work diligently. There are numerous significant tournaments in 2025, and I am concentrating on that. I aim to enhance my skills across all formats, and with God's grace, I hope for positive outcomes," he remarked.

In a recent appearance at the India Today Conclave 2025, Gukesh also shared insights into the financial difficulties his parents encountered. "I recall my parents' friends helping to fund my participation in tournaments abroad. It was a challenging time, and we received tremendous support from many kind and selfless individuals. Fortunately, the past year has been financially rewarding for us," he noted.

"It means a great deal to me that my parents no longer have to worry about finances. We can now enjoy a comfortable life without the struggles we faced before," he added.

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