Chennai Super Kings (CSK), a team so much revered in the Indian Premier League (IPL), honoured chess world champion D Gukesh on Friday. The organisation welcomed the teenage grandmaster in a special honour by giving him a jersey in the special colours of CSK emblazoning No. 18, highlighting his record win in becoming a world chess champion at the young age of 18.
CSK posted an emotional video on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle, wherein ace cricketer R Ashwin, who is from Chennai too, gave the special jersey to D Gukesh. The emotional gesture served to reinforce the image of Chennai as a city that loves not just cricket but has given the world-class chess champions too.
World champion of chess! ♟️
A Chennai paiyan at heart! 💛
A sparring with Ashwin! 🦁🤝Introducing Chennai Superstars! Get set to meet Gukesh and his love for the city!🥳🤝
Coming Soon! 📹🔜#WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/bwVRm4zSDn
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 21, 2025
Chennai: A Hub of Chess Champions
While Chennai has an unparalleled passion for cricket, the city is also known for its deep-rooted chess legacy. It has been home to five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand, along with other young chess prodigies like R Praggnanandhaa and R Vaishali.
Gukesh’s victory over China’s Ding Liren in the 2024 World Chess Championship added another glorious chapter to Chennai’s rich sporting history.
D Gukesh Admiration for MS Dhoni and Novak Djokovic
D Gukesh is a great fan of former CSK skipper MS Dhoni, who guided the team to five IPL championships. The young chess sensation attributes his inspiration to Dhoni and tennis great Novak Djokovic.
“When I was younger, it was Indian cricketer MS Dhoni, now it’s Novak Djokovic,” D Gukesh revealed in an interview with PTI. “I think both are great athletes and I admire a lot of things about both of them.”
“I think the way Dhoni and tennis great Novak Djokovic handle themselves under immense pressure, they are big-game players and always come out on top and bring out their best whenever needed. That is why I am attracted to them.”
A Proud Moment for Chennai’s Sporting Legacy
By making this unique gesture, Chennai Super Kings was not only celebrating Gukesh’s solo achievement but the city’s burgeoning dominance across a range of sports. As the city keeps producing world-class sporting personalities across all domains, the cricket and chess bond gets even more solid.
