Many Indian chess players hail from Tamil Nadu, including the youngest world champion, 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju. What makes India's southernmost state a hub for chess players?
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00:00This Indian teenager recently became the world's youngest chess champion.
00:08Gukesh Damaraju is only 18 years old. He is four years younger than Russia's Garry Kasparov,
00:15who became the world champion in 1985 at the age of 22.
00:20What separates Gukesh or separated him was his discipline and maturity for his age.
00:26He was very serious when he was playing chess. When we were done with the class, he was like a child.
00:38Damaraju is the second Indian to win the title, after five-time world champion
00:43Viswanathan Anand, who put India on the world chess scene.
00:47But what's common between Damaraju and Anand? What the hell from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu?
00:54So, Chennai is just the capital of Tamil Nadu. There are no other states with as many events and players as Tamil Nadu.
01:04It's hugely popular. Mainly, I mean, everything starts because of Anand.
01:09Tamil Nadu has produced several top-notch players, including the first Indian international master,
01:15Manuel Aron, and the first Indian female grandmaster, Subaraman Vijayalakshmi.
01:22Tamil Nadu was the first state in India. Even 50 years ago, it was the same.
01:28So, the first international masters were from Tamil Nadu, and I was the first grandmaster.
01:34Since then, I've always maintained that lead.
01:37Now, the Tamil Nadu government is helping us a lot.
01:41The Olympics were held in Chennai, which is a big deal.
01:44There's a special connection between Tamil Nadu and chess.
01:49It's like a special relationship. And I think it will grow even more after this result.