Gukesh D Age, Height, Bio, Wiki, Affairs, Facts & More

Who is Gukesh D?

Gukesh Dommaraju, popularly known as Gukesh D, is a renowned Indian chess grandmaster who made history by becoming the world’s youngest chess champion in December 2024. Born on 29 May 2006 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Gukesh rose to prominence through his absolute dedication and exceptional talent in the game of chess. As of 2025, he is 19 years old.

Family Background and Education

Gukesh hails from an academically accomplished Telugu family. His father, Dr. Rajnikant, is an ENT surgeon, while his mother, Padma, is a microbiologist. He completed his schooling at Velammal Vidyalaya in Mel Ayanambakkam, Chennai, and has finished his +2 standard. He has not yet pursued formal college education as his focus has been primarily on his chess career.

Physical Appearance and Personal Traits

Standing at a healthy weight of 52 kg, Gukesh has black eyes and black hair. He is a right-handed player and follows a vegetarian diet. He neither smokes nor drinks. Fluent in Hindi, English, and Tamil, Gukesh identifies as a Hindu and was born under the zodiac sign Gemini.

Hobbies and Personal Favorites

Gukesh developed an early interest in chess, which remains his foremost passion. Besides playing chess, he enjoys travelling. His favorite actor is Vijay Sethupathi and his favorite actress is Deepika Padukone. He admires sports personalities like Sachin Tendulkar, Bobby Fischer, and Vishwanathan Anand. His favorite games are chess and cricket, his preferred food is dosa, and he enjoys drinking tea. His favorite color is black, and among destinations, he especially loves London.

Early Career and Rise in Chess

Professionally, Gukesh has made several groundbreaking achievements. In 2019, he became the second youngest grandmaster in chess history during a tournament held in New Delhi. He crossed the 2700 Elo rating mark for the first time in September 2022. Just a month later, he became the youngest player ever to defeat former World Champion Magnus Carlsen.

Breaking Records and Becoming World Champion

In September 2023, he made headlines again by surpassing five-time World Champion Vishwanathan Anand to become India’s top-ranked chess player in the FIDE rankings. The peak of Gukesh’s career came in December 2024 when he defeated presiding champion Ding Liren in a 14-game match, winning 7.5–6.5. With this historic victory he became the youngest World Chess Champion ever.

Net Worth and Social Media Presence

Gukesh enjoys a strong social media presence with 1.5 million followers on Instagram, 175K on Twitter, and 25K on Facebook. His estimated net worth is ₹30 crore, though his exact salary remains undisclosed.

Legacy and Inspiration

Gukesh’s journey from a chess prodigy to a world champion is a testament to his discipline, talent, and passion for the game. He continues to inspire millions of young chess enthusiasts across the globe.