Dommaraju Gukesh took a few seconds to realise what he had just achieved.

Thanking the almighty, the 18-year-old grandmaster could not control his emotions. Tears of joy streaming down, Gukesh, the youngest-ever world chess champion, buried his head in his hands.

The vanquished Ding Liren of China had already left the glass room, unable to digest the childish error he had made to give the crown on a platter to the Chennai-based player.

Outside the room, Dr Rajini Kanth, Gukesh’s father, pacing up and down a corridor at the venue, was for a moment bewildered when he realised his son was now a world champion. A quick call to Chennai, and the proud father rushed to congratulate Gukesh. He was briefly interrupted by a hug from a well-wisher.

“I am just living my dream,” Gukesh said at the post-match news conference.

“I was dreaming of this moment for the last 10 years. Happy I realised this dream,” he added.

“I got a bit emotional because I was not expecting to win (the 14th game). But then I got a chance to press on. I’ve been dreaming about this and living this moment since I was 6 or 7. Every chess player wants to live this moment. I’m living my dream. I’d like to thank god for my journey from the Candidates till the Championship.”

Gukesh had watched Magnus Carlsen of Norway dethrone Viswanathan Anand in 2013 in Chennai.

“In 2013, when I saw Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Sir in the World Championship match, I thought it would be super cool to be inside the glass room one day, to actually be there and sit there and see the Indian flag next to me would probably be the best moment.

“When Magnus won, I thought I want to be the one to bring back the title to India. I had said in 2017 that I wanted to be the youngest world champion in history.”

Pep talk from Anand

Five-time champion Anand played a pivotal role in shaping Gukesh’s career at his chess academy in Chennai.

Gukesh revealed that it was Anand who calmed him down after his loss to Ding in the opening game.

“I came here and suddenly I lost the first game itself. Luckily, I met Vishy Sir (Anand) in the lift and he said ‘I had only 11 games left you have 13 more, you will get your chances’,” said Gukesh.

Anand was citing his 2006 victory over Veselin Topalov in a World Championship that he had eventually won after losing the first game. Interestingly enough, Anand had won that match in the last Classical (12th) game and also with black pieces.

“Vishy Sir was never officially part of the team, but we all know that he was supporting me. He attended one of the training camps, but also helped remotely for a few sessions.”

Despite the world title, Gukesh sought to keep his feet on the ground, and said Carlsen is currently the best player in the world and he would love to play against the Norwegian world No. 1.

“My goal is to play at the top level for the longest time possible. I have just started my career and want to stay on top. Winning here does not mean I am the best player, obviously that is Magnus Carlsen. I want to reach the level Magnus has achieved.

“Playing against Magnus in the world championship would be amazing, it would be the toughest challenge. It is up to Magnus, but I would love to test myself against the best player in the world.”

Regarding his parents’ contributions, Gukesh said, “This is bigger for them than for me.”

Messages pour in

As expected, Gukesh was drowned in a sea of congratulatory messages.

President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin hailed Gukesh’s triumph.

“Congratulations, Gukesh! The best in the world and the youngest to ever do it. India is proud!” wrote Neeraj Chopra, the world champion in javelin, on X. “Following in Vishy’s (Anand) footsteps, you’re now guiding the next wave of Indian chess prodigies,” wrote cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar.