Debate Over Gukesh’s Heritage Sparks Online Battle Between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
Gukesh's chess win sparks debate between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh over his heritage
Debate erupts between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh over chess champ Gukesh’s heritage and origin
A debate has erupted over the heritage of Gukesh Dommaraju, the 18-year-old chess champion who recently became the world’s youngest-ever chess champion. His historic win has led to a rivalry between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, with both states claiming him as their own.
The controversy began after Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, MK Stalin, congratulated Gukesh on Twitter. He praised the young chess star’s achievement, saying it helped reaffirm Chennai’s place as the global Chess Capital. Stalin also expressed Tamil Nadu’s pride in Gukesh’s success.
Congratulations to @DGukesh on becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at 18!
Your remarkable achievement continues India's rich chess legacy and helps Chennai reaffirm its place as the global Chess Capital by producing yet another world-class champion.
Tamil Nadu is… pic.twitter.com/pQvyyRcmA1
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 12, 2024
Two minutes later, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also congratulated Gukesh, calling him a Telugu boy and wishing him more success in the future.
Hearty congratulations to our very own Telugu boy, Indian Grandmaster @DGukesh, on scripting history in Singapore by becoming the world's youngest chess champion at just 18! The entire nation celebrates your incredible achievement. Wishing you many more triumphs and accolades in… pic.twitter.com/TTAzV9CRbX
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) December 12, 2024
Who is Gukesh Dommaraju?
Gukesh Dommaraju was born and raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, but his parents are both from Andhra Pradesh and are of Telugu heritage. Gukesh’s interest in chess began at a young age, and he became a FIDE-rated player at just eight years old. His win has led to an online debate over whether he should be considered Tamil or Telugu.
Online Debate Over Gukesh’s Identity
The debate has quickly expanded into a larger conversation about ethnicity and language. Many people argue that Gukesh is ethnically Telugu because of his parents, even though he was born and raised in Tamil Nadu. Some users also point out that Tamil Nadu has financially supported Gukesh’s chess career, with the state government gifting him ₹75 lakh for his achievement.
However, others argue that Gukesh’s ethnicity doesn’t matter, and his achievement should be celebrated as an Indian success. “He won a medal for India,” said one social media user, emphasizing that his identity as an Indian is more important than his regional background.
Gukesh is a Telugu or Tamil guy… isse 🔔 farak padta hai…
He won a medal for India… pic.twitter.com/bMyEQ7K593
— Srikar_Reddy (@user_reddy) December 13, 2024
A Historic Achievement for India
Gukesh’s victory marks a significant milestone in Indian chess, as he becomes the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the World Chess Championship, and the first since 2012. Gukesh shared that he had been dreaming of this moment for ten years and was thrilled to finally make it a reality.
He received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other political leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have produced several chess champions, with notable players such as Koneru Humpy and Pentala Harikrishna from Andhra Pradesh, and Viswanathan Anand and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa from Tamil Nadu.
Despite the debate over his heritage, Gukesh’s victory is being celebrated nationwide as a proud moment for Indian chess.
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