Gukesh’s Historic Chess Win Ignites Rivalry Between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

Gukesh’s Historic Chess Win Ignites Rivalry Between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

As the youngest-ever uncontested World Chess Champion, Gukesh Dommaraju’s triumph at the World Chess Championship on Thursday was a significant turning point in the history of chess. But this accomplishment has also led to a bitter dispute over credit between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Both states immediately attempted to claim Gukesh as their own as word of his achievement spread.

MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, fired the initial shot in this state rivalry. Stalin praised Gukesh on his “remarkable achievement” on X (beforehand Twitter) at 7:25 PM on Thursday, guaranteeing that the success established Chennai’s situation as the “global Chess Capital.” As indicated by the Chief Minister’s tweet, which included an image of Stalin putting a gold decoration around Gukesh’s neck, “Tamil Nadu is pleased with you.” “Congrats to Gukesh on turning into the most youthful ever World Chess Champion at 18 years old!” said Stalin’s statement. By creating another world-class champion, your outstanding accomplishment helps Chennai solidify its status as the world’s chess capital and carries on India’s rich chess heritage.”

But as soon as Stalin uploaded his message, N Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, swiftly adopted the same stance, calling Gukesh “our very own Telugu boy.” “Congratulations to Indian Grandmaster Gukesh, our very own Telugu lad, who at the age of 18 became the youngest chess champion in history, making history in Singapore! Your amazing accomplishment is celebrated around the country. Naidu wrote on X, “I hope you have many more successes and honors in the decades to come.”

Gukesh’s beginnings are at the heart of the dispute around his origins. Despite Gukesh’s Telugu ancestry and his Chennai birth and upbringing, there are differing opinions on his origins because of his family’s connections to Andhra Pradesh. His parents are both doctors with strong ties to the Telugu-speaking area, which adds to the controversy about his “real” identity.

Due to the southern states’ shared history, the internet debate swiftly expanded into a more extensive discussion of language and ethnicity. Many noted that the chess star has received substantial financial backing from Tamil Nadu. A screenshot of an April news article claiming that the government had given him ₹75 lakh was shared by one X user. They also attempted to ‘prove’ Gukesh’s Telugu heritage, nevertheless.

Who is Dommaraju Gukesh? When Gukesh was just seven years old, he witnessed his countryman Viswanathan Anand lose the global chess championship to Norwegian opponent Magnus Carlsen in November 2013; this match stoked his desire to return the title back to India. He made his breakthrough when he was rated by FIDE, the world chess association, at the age of eight. But his will to win the title himself was forged by his experience at the 2013 World Chess Championship in Chennai, where Magnus Carlsen defeated India’s former champion, Viswanathan Anand.

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In retrospect, Gukesh told media following his historic victory that he was motivated to win the title after witnessing Anand’s loss in 2013. “I was in the stands and I was looking inside the glass box where the players were, and I thought it will be so cool to be inside one day,” he said. “When Magnus won, I thought I really want to be the one to bring back the title to India.”Gukesh became the youngest undisputed world champion in chess history after defeating China’s Ding Liren in an intense 14-day match in Singapore. The youthful genius considered the desire that had driven him for more than ten years as he clinched his victory: “This dream that I had more than 10 years ago has been the most important thing in my life so far.”