India may be embroiled in a high-stakes Test series against Australia, but cricketing duties didn’t deter Shubman Gill from extending his heartfelt congratulations to India’s newest chess prodigy, Gukesh Dommaraju. The 18-year-old made history by defeating China’s Ding Liren to become the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, breaking the record previously held by the legendary Garry Kasparov, who claimed the title at the age of 22 in 1985.
Ahead of the Gabba Test scheduled to begin on December 14, Shubman Gill addressed reporters and used the moment to acknowledge Gukesh’s incredible achievement. “Just want to say congratulations from the entire Indian cricket team. Becoming the youngest world champion is a great feat in itself,” said the Indian batter. His words echoed the sentiments of a proud nation, celebrating yet another milestone in Indian sports.
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also joined the celebrations, posting a congratulatory message on social media: “Congratulations to Gukesh Dommaraju on becoming the Youngest World Chess Champion. He defeated Ding Liren at the 2024 World Chess Championship to emerge as the youngest world champion in history.”
🚨 BREAKING
Shubman Gill congratulates @DGukesh on his historic triumph at the Chess World Championship.@BoriaMajumdar @CricSubhayan @ShubmanGill #GukeshDing #Gukesh #GukeshDommaraju pic.twitter.com/KWTdwgfqIN
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) December 13, 2024
Congratulations to Gukesh Dommaraju on becoming the Youngest World Chess Champion 🏆 🥳
He defeated Ding Liren at the 2024 World Chess Championship to emerge as the youngest world champion in history 👏 pic.twitter.com/blpCm1s6l2
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 12, 2024
Jay Shah, chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), praised Gukesh’s monumental victory, tweeting, “Congratulations @DGukesh, you have made India proud by becoming the youngest world chess champion at just 18 years of age! I look forward to seeing many more achievements in your career.”
Congratulations @DGukesh, you have made India proud by becoming the youngest world chess champion at just 18 years of age!
I look forward to seeing many more achievements in your career.@FIDE_chess pic.twitter.com/FBRV4fntvK
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) December 13, 2024
DGukesh clinched the World Chess Championship title with a 7.5-6.5 win over Ding Liren. The contest was intensely competitive, with Gukesh capitalizing on a critical error from Liren in the final moments to secure the victory. His remarkable composure under pressure has been attributed in part to his mental conditioning coach, Paddy Upton, who famously guided the Indian cricket team during their 2011 World Cup triumph.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Paddy Upton explained, “We’ve worked on strategies for managing himself when ahead, behind, or under pressure, not just in individual games but across the championship as a whole. Clarity in these moments makes all the difference.”
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Interestingly, D Gukesh has long been inspired by another Indian legend, MS Dhoni, whom he cited as his childhood idol. Dhoni’s calmness under pressure appears to have left a lasting impact on the young chess champion, who is now carving out his own legacy in the world of sports. This historic moment serves as a testament to India’s growing dominance across diverse fields, as cricket and chess come together to celebrate a shared legacy of excellence.
