Opinion: How a boy from Chennai rekindled India's ancient chess spirit
India TodayIt happened in Sentosa, Singapore, on a humid December evening in 2024 that an 18-year-old from Chennai stood on the shoulders of Indian chess giants and changed the world forever. Here stood India’s second world champion, the heir to Viswanathan Anand’s legacy, taking his place in chess history as the 18th world champion overall, and the youngest ever. The echoes of Gukesh’s final move reach well beyond the chessboard, touching the idea that India, brimming with talent and ambition, stands ready to influence not just who rules the game but who shapes the narrative of the century to come. In besting Ding Liren, Gukesh has shown that India’s diplomatic and economic muscle aren’t the only symbols of its rise; its intellectual prowess, too, has returned to center stage. India’s newest champion has ushered in a world that may look different from the past: more chaotic perhaps, more dynamic certainly, and undeniably more inclusive.