The International Arrival Gate T2 of the Chennai Airport is full of expectations.
Fans adjusted their banners and flags, media personnel adjusted their cameras, and the crowd paced anxiously, waiting for the arrival of their hero D. Gukesh.
The chess prodigy went down in history as the youngest world chess champion after defeating China’s Ding Liren in a grueling 14-game match in Singapore. Now, he’s getting a hero’s welcome.
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At 7:30 am, people started queuing up to catch a glimpse of Gukesh. At 10:30 a.m., there was an air of uneasiness in the air.
But in the end, the long wait proved to be worth it, and the young champion finally emerged, wearing a crown, a huge garland, draped in the Indian flag, and proudly holding the glittering World Championship trophy.
Just when the homecoming seemed to be going well, chaos erupted, echoing the overwhelming, almost intrusive reception that Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa experienced after their historic Candidates and World Cup victories. History seems to be repeating itself.
The combined efforts of the airport administration, local police, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and members of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) were not enough to control the frantic crowd eager to catch a glimpse of the heroes. Local media are notorious for pushing the boundaries to grab sound bites or photos, which only makes matters worse.
At first glance, the place looks like the aftermath of a stampede. People rushed in every direction, and the floor was littered with bracelets, slippers and shoes – clear evidence of complete chaos that no one seemed to be able to control.
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Despite the chaos, Gukesh graciously accommodated every request for autographs and selfies, embodying patience and humility.
As chaos reigns, one striking image stands out: Gukesh’s father, Dr. Rajinikanth, desperately trying to help his son but unable to navigate the turmoil.
Amid the hysteria, there was also a heartwarming side to the story, as hundreds of fans gathered to express their love and admiration for Gukesh. Among them is SDAT’s track and field coach Gomathi, who leads 30 boys and almost as many girls from different sports under the SDAT banner.
“We are extremely proud of Gukesh’s achievement. Not only did he win the world title, but he also became the youngest champion. It feels as though one of our own dreams has come true. This win feels very personal,” Gomati said at the Looking back on this historic moment.
Gomathi, track and field coach at SDAT. |Photo credit: NIGAMANTH P.
Gomathi, track and field coach at SDAT. |Photo credit: NIGAMANTH P.
She added: “Today, we celebrate one gukesh, but I hope to see many more gukshes in the future. This win can serve as a stepping stone.”
Karnataka’s Rahul Kamble traveled nearly 850 kilometers from Belgaum to Chennai to see his champion.
“I came here to meet Gukesh. He shook my hand and it was all worth it for that moment. I have been racing road bikes since November 25 to support Gukesh. Along the way, I visited a few chess schools Academy. My dream is to pose with Gukesh and my bike. From here, I plan to travel across Tamil Nadu,” said Rahul, whose journey coincides with Gukesh’s world title campaign.
Rahul is a chess coach at a private school in his hometown, and his obsession with the journey has cost him his job. His school management turned him down for the bike tour, but he decided to quit and pursue it.
“During the Candidates Championship, I traveled north to Goa and then to Mumbai, where Gukesh won the tournament. A friend told me that I had to continue my journey to bring good luck to Gukesh, so I resigned I lost my job. I hope I get a chance to tell him my story.”
