CHENNAI: It was 2017 and an 11-year old D Gukesh was still learning the ropes of top-flight chess. But he was clear in his mind: "I want to become the youngest world chess champion," Gukesh had said in an interview.
Since then, the Indian GM, full of determination and drive, has been toiling towards his ultimate goal. Thanks to the grind over the years, including "sacrificing childhood"— as his coach Vishnu Prasanna would put it — Gukesh is now just one step away from realizing his dream. His singular focus on chess and parents' decision to let him do what he does best have also contributed to his meteoric rise.
