Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Dec 11: Hungarian grandmaster Richard Rapport has lauded the meteoric rise of Indian chess, particularly the extraordinary support system behind young world champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Speaking to The Indian Express ahead of the third edition of the Global Chess League, where he will represent the American Gambits franchise, Rapport recalled being impressed by the “Avengers” that Gukesh assembled to dethrone Ding Liren at the 2024 World Chess Championship.
“At the world championship, Team Gukesh was an impressive group. To afford and maintain such a setup speaks volumes,” Rapport said. The 18-year-old Chennai prodigy had assembled six seconds, including long-time trainer Grzegorz Gajewski, Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Jan Krzysztof Duda, Jan Klimkowski, Pentala Harikrishna, and Vincent Keymer. Beyond chess expertise, Gukesh also had guidance from mind coach Paddy Upton, who has worked with Indian cricket and hockey teams, along with five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand serving as a mentor.
“What stood out was having players like Duda and Keymer, who have their own world championship ambitions, still willing to help Gukesh. That’s remarkable,” Rapport added. He noted that the financial backing Indian players receive from sponsors in India has helped nurture exceptional talent, contributing to a generation of players capable of achieving world-class success.
Rapport highlighted India’s recent dominance on the international stage: Gukesh becoming the youngest world champion, Indian teams sweeping gold at the Chess Olympiad, Divya Deshmukh winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup, Praggnanandhaa nearing the Open World Cup title, R Vaishali claiming the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss twice, and Vidit Gujrathi winning the Open event in 2023.
“India has a very strong base of support. Many players grow up with a safety net from sponsors, which allows them to focus on performance without worrying about prize money. Coupled with immense talent, it’s no surprise we see these results,” Rapport explained.
The Hungarian also credited initiatives like the Global Chess League (GCL) for fueling Indian chess growth. “Investing in a sport over a long period, combined with talented players, eventually pays off. The GCL, with strong Indian involvement, has developed a serious fan base, showing that chess in India has reached a whole new level,” he said.
Rapport’s observations underline India’s emergence as a powerhouse in chess, backed by both talent and structured support systems, with young players like Gukesh Dommaraju leading the way on the global stage.