D Gukesh, the newly crowned chess world champion, has captured not only the hearts of chess enthusiasts but also the wallets of taxpayers—unwittingly funding his journey from pocket pawn to bank account king. The 18-year-old, richer by Rs 11.45 crore in prize money, insists he plays chess not for the riches but for the “unbridled joy” it brings. Joy, apparently, that comes at the expense of public funds and a national fixation on producing prodigies at any cost.
Gukesh fondly recalls the time a chessboard was his "coolest toy," a fact undoubtedly underlined by his dad’s decision to quit his ENT surgeon career to become a full-time chess chaperone. One can only imagine the sacrifice: from examining eardrums to examining opponents’ rook structures. Meanwhile, his mother, a microbiologist and now the de facto breadwinner of the family, kept the metaphorical chessboard upright with her queenly resolve.
When quizzed on what being a multi-millionaire means, Gukesh noted it’s a relief that his parents no longer have to make "hard decisions." (Translation: Dad can continue driving Gukesh to chess tournaments guilt-free, while Mom doesn’t need to hear snide remarks about financing her husband’s midlife career switch.)
While Gukesh insists that money isn’t why he plays chess, Rs 11.45 crore might just help rekindle his childhood love for "toys"- gold-plated chessboards, anyone? One can’t help but marvel at the modern chess prodigy system, where family sacrifices double as taxpayer-funded sacrifices. With government aid for coaching, travel, and development programs, it’s safe to say every middle-class worker who grimaces at their pay stub has a pawn in Gukesh’s triumph.
