When They Were ChessKids: Gukesh Dommaraju

Learn All About Gukesh:

• Meet Gukesh Dommaraju
• Gukesh’s Speedy Chess Journey
• Gukesh Today
• Gukesh Fast Facts
• Then and Now: Two Gukesh Games
• What Can ChessKids Learn From Gukesh?

Meet Gukesh Dommaraju

World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju was born on May 29, 2006, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He learned chess at age seven. But once he picked up the game, he rocketed forward faster than a rook delivering a back-rank checkmate!

Gukesh wasn’t the loudest kid in the room, but he was confident and focused! Even when he was little, he had a serious, disciplined vibe that made coaches say, “This kid is different.”

He loved practicing, loved playing, and always wanted to give his absolute best. Pressure? No problem; Gukesh stayed calm, thought things through, and played like someone way older than he actually was.

From the start, he showed maturity beyond his years. He maintained a steady, cool‑headed attitude that helped him grow into one of the world's strongest young players.

Gukesh thinking about his next move. Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.

Gukesh’s Speedy Chess Journey

Age 7:
Gukesh plays his first chess tournament the same year he learns the game! Coaches quickly notice his talent and his love for chess. Soon he’s training three times a week.

Age 9:
Just two years later, he earns the title of candidate master. That’s a big milestone for any young chess player.

Age 11:
In March 2018, Gukesh traveled to France and scored an impressive 7 out of 9 at the Cappelle la Grande Open. This performance earned him the international master title.

Age 12:
At 12, he became the second-youngest grandmaster in history.

Age 17:
Gukesh won the 2024 Candidates Tournament, becoming its youngest-ever winner and earning the right to challenge GM Ding Liren for the world championship.

Age 18:
Gukesh defeated Ding to become the youngest undisputed world chess champion in history.

Check out this video from FunMasterMike showing some great games by Gukesh!

Gukesh Today

Gukesh continues to play in tournaments all over the world, inspiring kids everywhere. At the time this article was published, Gukesh was preparing to defend his world championship title against another 20-year-old star, GM Javokhir Sindarov.

It’s going to be an epic showdown between two rising chess legends. Chess fans everywhere will be watching!

Maybe Gukesh's favorite piece is the knight?

Gukesh Fast Facts

Ready to learn some awesome facts about World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju? Check out these highlights from his chess journey!

• A Gold Medal Machine
  In 2018, Gukesh won five gold medals at the Asian Youth Chess Championships. Five! Amazing!
  
  
• India’s Highest Rated Player
  In 2023, Gukesh passed chess legend GM Viswanathan Anand to become the highest-rated player in India. That’s a HUGE milestone, as Anand is one of the greatest players ever.
  
  
• Science Runs in the Family
  Gukesh’s dad is an ENT specialist, and his mom is a microbiologist. Although he grew up in a family of medical professionals, chess quickly became his passion.
  
  
• A Fan of Sports Legends
  When he’s not checkmating opponents, Gukesh loves reading books about great athletes. He studies champions from all kinds of sports to gain inspiration. When asked to choose between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Gukesh picked Messi as his favorite.
  
  
• Big Dreams at Age 12
  When Gukesh was just 12 years old, he announced he wanted to become the world champion. And we know how that story turned out.
  
  
• Youngest Ever to Win the Candidates and the World Championship
  Gukesh is the youngest player in history to win both the Candidates Tournament and the World Chess Championship. Talk about breaking records!
  
  
• Favorite Chess Hero
  Even though Gukesh has surpassed him in rating, his favorite chess player is still Anand, India’s first world champion and a huge inspiration. 

Gukesh with ChessKid!

Then and Now: Two Gukesh Games

Finally, let's look at two of Gukesh's memorable games: one from the past and one from the present. Gukesh has played so many great games that it was challenging to pick just two. We encourage all the ChessKids out there to research and learn more from this great world champion!

This first game is against none other than GM Magnus Carlsen. Gukesh has always enjoyed facing the strongest opponents, and no one is stronger than Magnus! After developing his pieces, Gukesh plays aggressive moves like f5 to chip away at Black's position. Quickly, Gukesh's pieces invade Magnus's position and dominate the seventh rank, forcing Magnus to resign.

 What Can ChessKids Learn From Gukesh?

• Practice Regularly
  Consistency is key to improvement.
  
  
• Rise to Challenges
  Seek out the strongest opponents and be brave when facing them.
  
  
• Coaches
  Work with a supportive coach who challenges and encourages you.
  
  
• Family
  Lean on a supportive family.
  
  
• Dream Big
  Dream big and break your goals into smaller, achievable steps.
  
  
• Resilience
  Bounce back from tough losses.
  
  
• Fun!
  Enjoy the process and have fun!