D. Gukesh Net Worth: All You Need To Know About The 4th Pass Youngest Chess Grandmaster

At just 18, India’s D. Gukesh became the the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion, earning the title of the 18th recognized champion on Thursday, solidifying his place in history.

 

Born on May 29, 2006, in Chennai, India, Gukesh began playing chess at the age of seven. His disciplined approach, along with the unwavering support of his parents—his father, Dr. Rajinikanth, an ENT surgeon, and his mother, Dr. Padma, a microbiologist—propelled his success. Gukesh's father even gave up his medical practice to fully support his son’s chess career. His passion for the 64-square board was so intense that his parents decided to stop him from attending school full-time after Class IV to focus on chess.

Gukesh surpassed Russian Grandmaster Garry Kasparov, who previously held the record for being the youngest world champion at 22.

 

An old video of 11-year-old Gukesh went viral, where he expressed his dream of becoming the youngest World Chess Champion—a dream that has now come true. 

Gukesh won $600,000 (approx. Rs 5.07 crore) in prize money from three victorious games in the championship. Including shared prize money, his total tournament earnings amounted to $1.35 million (approx. Rs 11.45 crore).

Following his World Championship victory, Gukesh's net worth soared to Rs 20 crore (approx. $2.4 million), as reported by the Financial Express. Prior to winning the title, his net worth in 2024 was estimated at Rs 8.26 crore ($1.5 million), primarily earned through high-stakes chess tournaments and endorsements.

The championship was tied at 6.5 points each before the final game. Gukesh capitalized on Ding Liren’s critical mistake on the 53rd move, securing the world championship title.