Mom's everyday tips were a must for golden boy D Gukesh

CHENNAI: It would not be an exaggeration to say that Grandmaster D Gukesh's mother Padma is his chief mentor and an 'unofficial' member of his support crew.

Padma, a microbiologist, is Gukesh's go-to person ahead of every match and the two connect with each other irrespective of the time difference. The "routine" was followed during the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where the teenager played an integral role in the India open team's maiden triumph with his stellar performances.

Padma's nuggets of wisdom had a strong influence on Gukesh as the 18-year-old remained unbeaten to secure an individual gold for the second successive time. "It was a great effort from Gukesh and the rest of the team. His game was impressive throughout and we are proud of him. I am happier that our team, as a whole, won gold for the country," Padma told TOI.

"His father Rajinikanth has been a solid pillar (he accompanies him for tournaments). As a parent, I provide him emotional support from home. Calls between us before matches are part of his routine. We talk for a few minutes, that is where we exchange words of confidence. He calls me for a few minutes every day," added Padma.

"There is a huge time difference when he plays in the USA or Canada or some European countries. But I stay awake until he calls me."

Two gold winners in the family

There was double delight in the Rameshbabu household after R Praggnanandhaa and R Vaishali bagged the team gold in the open and women's sections respectively.

"I am extremely happy. Having two gold-medal winners in our family gives me a lot of pride. Doing it in the same Olympiad has made it extra special," the brother sister duo's father Rameshbabu said.

"The best part about their journeys is that we did not have any expectations. The Olympiad gold is a big boost as they will aim higher."

Rameshbabu said the twin gold medals were a reward for the family's toil and sacrifices over the years. "Pragg and Vaishali dedicate a lot of time towards chess. They do not have time to celebrate festivals and they miss a lot of family functions. Both of them have gone through a lot to get to this level. We have sacrificed so much as a family to get here. For the last 15 days, I have been managing alone (mother Nagalakshmi has travelled with them to Budapest)."


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