When D Gukesh wore Roger Federer shirt for Chess World Championship match

18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju, who became the youngest chess world champion, was wearing a Roger Federer-branded shirt during his Chess World Championship victory over Ding Liren. Gukesh became only the second Indian to claim the World Chess Championship title, following in the footsteps of former champion Viswanathan Anand.

Adding to the excitement was a surprising touch during the final game, where the teenage champion was seen sporting a Roger Federer-branded shirt beneath his grey suit. The iconic black RF logo, synonymous with the tennis legend, delighted fans of both chess and tennis, adding an unexpected yet symbolic twist to his victory. Earlier, Gukesh had expressed his admiration for the way charismatic former India cricket captain MS Dhoni and iconic tennis player Novak Djokovic handle intense pressure.

Gukesh overcame defending champion Ding Liren of China on Thursday to achieve a historic triumph, becoming the 18th World Chess Champion overall and only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the prestigious title, which came with a whopping prize of USD 1.3 million. During his introduction, the FIDE presenters lauded his “brilliant poise” and described his performance as a “performance for the ages” against an older and more experienced opponent.

“I mean, this moment feels like I have lived it a million times. Every morning when I woke up, this moment was the reason I woke up. To hold this trophy and experience this reality means more than anything else in my life,” the graceful teenager said during his acceptance speech after being awarded the gold medal and the USD 1.3 million reward.

Before the ceremony, Gukesh took time to meet and greet an endless stream of fans, ranging from toddlers to senior citizens. The crowd included not only members of the Indian diaspora but also local Singaporeans, many of whom brought chessboards that became priceless memorabilia after Gukesh signed them. The young champion admitted that his eyes were burning from lack of sleep, but he felt elated. “Why wouldn’t I? The world was literally at my feet in just the 18th year of my existence,” he said.

“This journey has been nothing short of a dream. There have been many ups and downs, many challenges, but I wouldn’t change a single thing. It has been beautiful because of the people I have had by my side,” Gukesh reflected during the FIDE closing ceremony.

He expressed heartfelt gratitude to his opponent for challenging him, his parents for their unwavering support, his team, the host country, the new fans he gained over the last three weeks, and the Almighty. “When I couldn’t see the solution, God was the only one who could pull me through and show me the way,” he remarked.