Anand Mahindra, the Chairman of the Mahindra Group, shared his admiration for D Gukesh, the 17-year-old chess prodigy who made history by winning the FIDE Candidates tournament, becoming the youngest player ever to do so. Mahindra expressed his pride in Gukesh's coolness, composure, and maturity beyond his years, predicting a bright future for the young chess champion that will inspire generations of Indian chess players. Their interaction at an event in Dubai, where they played for the camera and Mahindra humorously mentioned Gukesh calling a draw to spare him embarrassment, highlighted the bond between the veteran businessman and the promising chess star.
D Gukesh, hailing from Chennai, has rapidly made a name for himself in the chess world, achieving milestones such as becoming India's youngest grandmaster at just 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days old. Moreover, he recently surpassed Viswanathan Anand as India's top-ranked player, a notable feat in itself. Gukesh's unconventional training approach, which involved avoiding matches against chess engines and focusing more on playing with a trainer like Vishnu, set him apart from traditional training methods and ultimately paid off in his exceptional performance on the chessboard. Vishnu's decision to steer Gukesh away from playing against engines was considered risky but proved successful, contributing to Gukesh's rapid rise in the chess hierarchy and cementing his status as a rising star in the Indian chess scene.