Gukesh Dommaraju, commonly known as Gukesh D, is an Indian chess grandmaster from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. In December 2024, he became the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion in history by defeating Ding Liren of China in the FIDE World Chess Championship match held in Singapore. He had earlier become the youngest player to win the FIDE Candidates Tournament, which was held in Toronto in April 2024.
| Full name | Dommaraju Gukesh |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 May 2006, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Title | Grandmaster (FIDE) |
| Federation | India |
| Father | Rajinikanth (ENT surgeon) |
| Mother | Padma (microbiologist) |
| Notable coaches | Vishnu Prasanna, Grzegorz Gajewski |
| Major titles | FIDE World Champion (2024), Candidates Tournament winner (2024), Chess Olympiad team and individual gold (2024) |
Gukesh was born in Chennai to a Telugu-speaking family. He began learning chess at the age of seven and was initially coached by Bhaskar Nagaiah at his school. He later trained under International Master Vishnu Prasanna, who has been credited as a key influence in shaping his style. Gukesh has frequently attended the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), founded by former World Champion Viswanathan Anand, which mentors leading Indian talents.
Gukesh is regarded as a positional and deeply prepared player with strong endgame technique. Commentators have noted his calm temperament, long calculation depth, and willingness to play extended games in search of small advantages, traits often compared to those of classical world champions.
Gukesh's championship win in 2024 marked the return of the world title to India after Viswanathan Anand's reign ended in 2013. His success, alongside that of contemporaries such as R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi, is seen as the culmination of a generational shift led by Indian players, with Chennai continuing to be a prominent hub of Indian chess. He has been recognised through national sporting honours and has been featured among India's leading young athletes.