Youngest world chess champion Gukesh returns to hero’s welcome in India
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Teenager receives raucous reception after defeating China’s Ding Liren in tense 14-game series. Indian chess star Gukesh Dommaraju returned to a hero’s welcome in his home city on Monday after becoming the youngest world champion aged only 18. Hundreds of fans crowded the arrivals area of Chennai airport, cheering alongside banks of television cameras as Gukesh made his way out of the airport after victory in taking the World Chess Championship title.
![[India’s Gukesh Dommaraju holds his World Chess Championship trophy as he is draped with a garland during a press conference in Chennai]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a1d11566d1d5eae6e9209ee1338cc89169cd46b7/0_0_2831_1699/master/2831.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
“It means a lot to bring back the trophy to India,” Gukesh told reporters, with garlands of flowers draped around his neck, brandishing the glittering trophy in his hand. “I can see the support and what it means to India, I am glad to be here,” he added, as celebratory petals thrown into the air smothered his hair.
![[School students in Chennai waving placards congratulating Gukesh on becoming world chess champion.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c637f13167636b62d9342f2bf8c5f71f71203bb1/0_171_6610_3965/master/6610.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Gukesh downed China’s Ding Liren in a dramatic endgame in Singapore last week – becoming a sudden superstar in a nation where sporting fans are usually only obsessed with cricket. The scenes in the south Indian city of Chennai were reminiscent – albeit on a smaller scale – of this year’s triumphant homecoming of the country’s cricket stars with the T20 World Cup trophy.
Young fans, mainly from Gukesh’s school, held placards and photos of their new hero – whose victory has given a boost to dreams of pursuing chess as a professional sport. When he won in Singapore – after nearly three weeks and 14 games of intense battle against the 32-year-old Ding – Gukesh burst into tears.
