Gukesh Bungee Jumps, Gets Hero’s Welcome Back In India

Before leaving Singapore, new World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju fulfilled his promise to bungee soar, however when it comes to hazard it appeared like nothing in comparison with the crush that greeted him within the airport when he arrived house a hero in Chennai, India. GM Ding Liren had a a lot calmer homecoming again in Hangzhou, China, the place these welcoming him house included newly-crowned Girls U8 World Champion Chen Zhihan. 

Gukesh Bungee Jumps—A Promise Is A Promise!

At the post-match press convention Gukesh, maybe to the dismay of his coach GM Grzegorz Gajewski, told a story about a promise they made on one of the rest days. 

On the penultimate rest day, we went for a walk on the beach and we looked at this… I’m personally quite scared of heights, we both looked at the people who were trying bungee jumping, and Gaju said, if you win this thing, I’m going to do bungee jumping! And then I don’t know why I said this, but I said I’ll also join you, so now… probably also Paddy [Upton] can join. Looking forward to jumping off a bridge!

And so, earlier than leaving Singapore, there was a go to to the Skypark Sentosa and Gukesh climbed 47 meters into the air above the seashore. How was he feeling? “Scared!” 

But it did not cease him:

GM Magnus Carlsen getting thrown in a swimming pool in Chennai after successful the world championship in 2013 now not appears to be like so spectacular!  

Gukesh Arrives In Chennai

In phrases of hazard, nonetheless, it feels as if bungee leaping got here nowhere near the peril of navigating the wild crowd of followers and media that greeted Gukesh on his return to India. He’d already had a hero’s welcome in Chennai after winning the FIDE Candidates Tournament, but this was another level.

“I’m very glad to be here and I could see the support and what it means to India!” Gukesh managed to say amid the airport crowd. Asked for a message to his fans, he added: “You guys are amazing! You gave me so much energy.”

It was no simple job to go away the airport.

ChessBase India caught the entire path from rising from arrivals to reaching the automotive.

Gukesh additionally gave a press convention in his college.

He largely spoke in Tamil, however with sections in English. He repeated that that is solely the start. 

My goal has at all times been to grow to be one of the best participant on the planet and after I was a child world champion is a vital step in the direction of the dream, however nonetheless, it’s clear there are a number of sturdy gamers and I nonetheless have a number of enchancment to do, and gamers like Magnus they hold motivating me to work more durable. Although this can be a huge achievement and I do know it comes at a really younger age, I believe it’s nonetheless a really, very lengthy strategy to go, and my purpose is to maintain having fun with chess and to have a really lengthy profession and hopefully sooner or later to grow to be one of the best participant. 

My goal has at all times been to grow to be one of the best participant on the planet. 

—Gukesh Dommaraju

For the subsequent couple of weeks, the problem for Gukesh could merely be to adapt to his new celeb standing.

Ding Liren Arrives In Hangzhou

Meanwhile in China, Ding had a way more modest homecoming as he arrived in Hangzhou Airport. 

He was welcomed warmly, nonetheless, and a type of who met him is a champion herself. Chen Zhihan final month scored 9.5/11 to win the World Under-8 Girls Championship in Italy by a full level. 

Is she a future successor to GM Ju Wenjun as ladies’s world champion, or to Ding as total world champion? We’ll see, however for now it was a heartwarming second after a tough few weeks for Ding.

We’ll hold a watch particularly on Gukesh’s appearances on his return to India, however now the eye of the chess world will swap to Oslo, Norway, the place GMs Carlsen and Alireza Firouzja head the sector for the Champions Chess Tour Finals, beginning Tuesday, December 17.  

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