Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a Rs 5 crore cash prize for D Gukesh in recognition of his historic achievement of becoming the youngest World Chess Champion. At just 18, Gukesh defeated China’s Ding Liren in the final game to secure the prestigious title, also becoming the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to …
Tamil Nadu announce Rs 5 crore cash prize for World Champion D Gukesh
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a Rs 5 crore cash prize for D Gukesh in recognition of his historic achievement of becoming the youngest World Chess Champion. At just 18, Gukesh defeated China’s Ding Liren in the final game to secure the prestigious title, also becoming the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the classical chess world championship.
Expressing his admiration, Stalin emphasised that the award reflects the state’s appreciation for Gukesh’s incredible milestone at such a young age. The Tamil Nadu prodigy’s triumph adds to India’s proud legacy in the global chess arena.
“To honour the monumental achievement of @DGukesh, the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, I am delighted to announce a cash prize of Rs 5 crore! His historic victory has brought immense pride and joy to the nation. May he continue to shine and achieve greater heights in the future,” CM Stalin’s post read.
Gukesh’s victory over Ding Liren was a nail-biting encounter. The players entered the decisive 14th game tied at 6.5 points each. Playing with the black pieces, Gukesh maintained relentless pressure, capitalising on a mistake by Ding on the 53rd move to claim the championship title.
How much Gukesh will earn from his triumph
The total prize pool for the 2024 World Chess Championship was set at $2.5 million, roughly Rs 20.75 crore. FIDE’s prize structure allocates $200,000 (around Rs 1.68 crore) for each game won, with the remaining amount split equally between the two finalists.
Gukesh triumphed in Games 3, 11, and 14, earning him $600,000 (around Rs 5.04 crore) for those victories. Ding, on the other hand, won Games 1 and 2, pocketing $400,000 (approximately Rs 3.36 crore). The remainder of the prize fund, $1.5 million, was evenly shared, adding $750,000 (about Rs 6.23 crore) to each player’s total earnings.
In total, Gukesh earned an impressive $1.35 million (around Rs 11.27 crore) from his World Chess Championship triumph. Ding, despite losing the title, took home $1.15 million (approximately Rs 9.59 crore).
