I have a lot to improve, says Gukesh after rousing welcome

India's young world chess champion landed home, welcomed by delirious fans outside the Chennai airport

- Shahid Judge

MUMBAI: "Peeche chalo, peeche chalo," (go back), the security official outside the Chennai International Airport arrival terminal kept shouting on Monday morning. From an order, it became more and more of a plea, but the hundreds gathered there were in no mood to take a step back.

After all, they were all gathered to celebrate the end of a 11-year wait — to welcome Gukesh Dommaraju, the newest chess world champion.

For Chennai, this world title has huge significance. It was in this chess-loving city that their own five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand had in 2013 lost his World Championship Match to Magnus Carlsen.

India had been waiting since then to regain the title. That wait ended last Thursday when Gukesh beat China's Ding Liren in the World Championship Match in Singapore, becoming the youngest ever player to wear the crown, and only the second Indian to win the title, after Anand.

The reception upon his return home reflected that joy of the long wait having ended.

Amidst wild cheering by the crowd, Gukesh stepped out of the arrival gate and journalists, fans and security officials alike surged forward to meet the 18-year-old who left Chennai as the challenger to the throne and returned as the king.