New world champion D Gukesh, who has recently been tagged a "multi-millionaire" after claiming a prize money of Rs 11.45 crore for defeating China's Ding Liren in the final, says that money is not his motivation for playing chess.
The 18-year-old from Chennai, who has been passionate about the game since childhood, explained in an interview with FIDE that despite the significant financial gain, his primary focus remains on the joy of playing chess, which he fondly recalls as his "coolest toy" when he first started out.
Reflecting on the journey that led him to this point, Gukesh shared that being called a multi-millionaire means a lot to him, especially because of the hardships his family had to endure during his early years in chess.
His father, Rajnikanth, gave up his career as an ENT surgeon to support his son’s chess career, while his mother, Padmakumari, a microbiologist, became the sole earner of the family.
Gukesh said, “It means a lot. When I got into chess, we (as a family) had to make some hard decisions. My parents had gone through financial and emotional hardships. Now, we are more comfortable and parents don’t need to think about those things.” However, he emphasised, “Personally, money isn't the reason I play chess."
For Gukesh, the game continues to offer immense personal satisfaction.
“I am still the kid who loves chess. It used to be the coolest toy,” he remarked. His parents, he said, continue to play pivotal roles in his success. His father manages his off-board affairs, allowing Gukesh to focus solely on the game, while his mother remains his emotional anchor.
“She (mother) still says, I will be happy to know that you are a great chess player but I would be happier to hear that you are a greater person,” he shared.
Despite his world champion status, Gukesh’s enthusiasm for learning remains unshaken.
“The more I learn about chess, the more aware I become of how little I know,” he admitted. Even as a teenager, Gukesh recognises that the journey of learning in chess is boundless. “Even the greatest of players make a lot of mistakes. Even though technology is so advanced, there is still a lot to learn about chess. I strongly believe that the more you learn something, the more you realise that you don’t know that thing,” he added.
He is also clear about the importance of balancing the journey with the destination.
“The process of the journey is very important but for me, it is even more important to be clear about the destination,” Gukesh said.
He noted that while he sometimes feels disappointed after losing a game despite playing well, he also values the satisfaction of winning even when his performance falls short of perfection.
Gukesh’s determination to win outweighs his fear of losing.
He explained, “My desire to win is stronger than the fear of losing.”
He further discussed the final match, expressing some surprise that Ding Liren agreed to a draw in the second game after Gukesh had played poorly in the first. He felt that Liren could have pushed for more in that game, though he understood his cautious approach.
Outside of chess, Gukesh recently became a viral sensation when a video of him dancing at the Chess Olympiad celebration caught the attention of his friends.
“Earlier, my friends would dance and I would sit in a corner. After the Olympiad win, the spirits were high and it was (the dance) in the moment. But the video went viral and now my friends said that 'you had danced there and now you will have to join us’,” he smiled.
Looking ahead, Gukesh also mentioned his comfort food – South Indian delicacies – which he indulged in during the final in Singapore.
He added lightheartedly, “I haven’t had ice cream for one year. Maybe I will have one.”
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