"Money isn’t the reason I play chess" - World Chess Championship winner opens up on reason for playing the sport
World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, fresh off his historic victory, shared a heartfelt perspective on his journey and motivation behind playing the sport. Despite securing an impressive $1.35 million (approximately ₹11.45 crore) in prize money after defeating China's Ding Liren in the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024, the 18-year-old emphasized that money was never his driving force.
“Personally, money isn’t the reason I play chess,” Gukesh said in an interview with FIDE.
While he acknowledged that the "multi-millionaire" tag now attached to his name does hold significance, he clarified that financial gains were never his motivation. Reflecting on what becoming a multi-millionaire truly means, Gukesh highlighted the sacrifices his family made during the early days of his career.
“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 my parents don’t need to think about those things.”
Gukesh's father, Dr. Rajnikanth, an ENT surgeon, made a profound sacrifice, stepping away from his medical career to accompany his son on his chess journey. Meanwhile, his mother, Padmakumari, a microbiologist, became the family's sole breadwinner during those challenging years.
His father now serves as his manager, ensuring that Gukesh can fully focus on the board. Gukesh further added that his mother wants him to be a better person more than a great chess player.
“She 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,” Gukesh shared.
World Chess Champion D Gukesh’s love affair with the “coolest toy”
Gukesh’s victory over Ding Liren in the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 was truly one for the books. He became the youngest world chess champion at 18 years, beating Garry Kasparov’s long-standing record, and also becoming the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to claim this title.
Despite the accolades, fame, and wealth, Gukesh remains grounded, cherishing the essence of why he started playing the game. The 18-year-old underlined the pure joy he continues to find in the sport.
“I am still the kid who loves chess. It used to be the coolest toy,” Gukesh concluded.