New Delhi: D Gukesh etched his name in history books as he became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion after defeating Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren in the titular clash in Singapore on Thursday, December 12. The long 14-game battle took off on November 25 and saw Gukesh going down in the opening clash followed by several draws and wins. Gukesh rewrote records as he became only the second Indian to hold the world title.
To celebrate the huge triumph, Gukesh had some fun plans on his list. He only arrived in India on Monday, four days after becoming the world champion. To utilise the four-day gap, Gukesh went “bungee jumping” on one of the days, the video of which he shared on his social media handles. The beachfront venue was an adventure centre on the Sentosa island of Singapore which also features a giant swing, a sky bridge, and a vertical skywalk.
In the video, it can be heard that it was Gukesh’s first-ever bungee jump and when asked about how he was feeling, the world champ said, “Scared”. He eventually jumped off the platform and hung through the flexible tight ropes and harness, also exclaiming, “I’m the world champion.” He was visibly joyous after the activity and when asked about how was the bungee, he said, “It was great.”
Watch the video here –
I did it! pic.twitter.com/FUBpo5m82N
— Gukesh D (@DGukesh) December 16, 2024
Gukesh receives grand welcome
The Chennai lad arrived to a rousing reception in the city as he was first picked up from the airport which was flocked by students and his fans. He was presented with a huge garland and soon made his way to a press conference which was also attended by his parents. The 18-year-old posed for several pictures with the elite trophy that he clinched in Singapore and talked to the media about the battles he faced while taking on Ding Liren.
The teenager highlighted the mental and emotional pressure during the huge clash and credited his mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton who helped him tame the pressure. Gukesh’s father Rajnikanth too spoke with the media, recalling his son’s humble beginnings in chess, saying that the youngster started playing the sport as a mere hobby.
D Gukesh made the most of time in Singapore after he lifted the World Chess Championship title on December 12. Gukesh shared a video on his social media handle on Monday where he can be seen going bungee jumping. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
