New Delhi: Ravichandran Ashwin, who is set to play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, recently met with World Chess Champion D Gukesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Ashwin, who will play for CSK after an absence of nine years (since 2015), had a fun interaction with the youngest world chess champion.
The veteran spinner greeted Gukesh with a handshake and presented him a CSK jersey with “Gukesh” written on its back and bearing the number 18. The two Chennai boys then engaged in a game of chess, after which Ashwin signed the chessboard. This left the 18-year-old Gukesh enthralled after meeting with the legendary cricketer.
The video of the interaction was posted by CSK on their social media handles with the caption, “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!
Here’s the video of Ashwin & Gukesh’s meetup –
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
D Gukesh’s starry 2024
Gukesh had a brilliant 2024 as he became only the second Indian, after the great Viswanathan Anand, to win the World Chess Championship title. He defeated China’s Ding Liren in a thrilling match in Singapore. He also broke the record of Gary Kasparov, becoming the youngest champion to hold the title and the first teenager to do so. Earlier this year, Gukesh was at a career-best no. 3 in the FIDE classical ratings.
Gukesh was also honoured with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award by President Droupadi Murmu in January. He was among the four sportspersons to receive the award, the other three being Harmanpreet Singh, Manu Bhaker, and Paralympian Praveen Kumar
World champion D Gukesh visited the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and met Ravichandran Ashwin who engaged in a fun chess battle with him and even gifted him a CSK t-shirt. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
