NEW DELHI: The All India Chess Federation (AICF) today honoured India’s chess icons, Gukesh Dommaraju and Koneru Humpy, in a grand felicitation ceremony in the capital. The event celebrated Gukesh’s historic achievement as the youngest-ever World Chess Champion and Humpy’s triumph at the 2024 FIDE Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship.
Gukesh, 18, scripted history in December by defeating China’s Ding Liren in a gripping 14-match encounter in Singapore to become the second Indian World Chess Champion after Viswanathan Anand. AICF announced a cash reward of ₹1 crore for Gukesh and ₹50 lakh for his support team. Gukesh’s parents were also honoured for their sacrifices in nurturing his talent.
Koneru Humpy, India’s No. 1 women’s chess player, claimed her second Women’s World Rapid Chess title by defeating Irene Sukandar. She was awarded ₹50 lakh, while bronze medalist R Vaishali Rameshbabu received ₹20 lakh for her performance in the 2024 FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship.
Acknowledging these milestones, AICF President Nitin Narang said, “It’s a proud moment for Indian chess. Gukesh’s grit and perseverance are inspirational, and Humpy’s achievements continue to make us proud.”
The felicitation ceremony highlighted a golden year for Indian chess, including a historic gold at the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Hungary, for which the AICF had awarded ₹3.2 crore.
An emotional Gukesh expressed gratitude, saying, “2024 was monumental for chess in India. With continued support, we’ll achieve even greater heights in 2025.” Humpy echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the rise of Indian chess talent.
