AICF announces Rs 1 crore prize for world chess champion D Gukesh; Koneru Humpy awarded Rs 50 lakh

NEW DELHI: The All India Chess Federation (AICF) hosted a grand felicitation ceremony in New Delhi on Thursday, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Indian chess grandmasters in recent months.
The event celebrated teenage Grandmaster (GM) D Gukesh, who created history by becoming the youngest-ever undisputed World Chess Champion, GM Koneru Humpy, who bagged her second World Rapid Chess Championship, and GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, who finished third and clinched bronze in World Blitz Chess Championship.
Gukesh, the 18th World Champion since 1886, was awarded a Rs 1 crore cash prize for his achievement. His parents were present at the ceremony, sharing the proud moment with the chess community.
The AICF also announced Rs 50 lakh for his stellar support team, comprising Pentala Harikrishna (India), Grzegorz Gajewski (Poland), Radoslaw Wojtaszek (Poland), Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland), Jan Klimkowski (Poland), and Vincent Keymer (Germany).
Grandmaster Humpy was awarded Rs 50 lakh for her contributions to Indian chess. 37-year-old Humpy, a wife and mother, has been a constant source of inspiration.
Vaishali, another rising star of Indian chess, received Rs 20 lakh for securing a bronze medal at the recently concluded World Blitz Championship (WRB).
Announcing the honours, AICF President Nitin Narang commended Gukesh’s grit, recounting his electrifying performances in Singapore, where he showed unyielding determination.
“Whenever the engines suggested a draw, Gukesh would refuse and decide to continue playing. That was a very common phenomenon in the last three rounds. Gukesh, your grit, perseverance, patience, and refusal to let go of opportunities are what define you and made you who you are today—the youngest-ever world champion,” he remarked.
Speaking at the event, Gukesh reflected on what has been a landmark year for Indian chess. “2024 was truly remarkable. We won the Candidates Tournament, both the men’s and women’s Olympiads, and the World Championship. On top of that, Humpy Mam capped it off with her victory at the World Rapid Championship. It was an incredible year, and with continued support, I hope we will see even greater achievements in the future,” he said.
Humpy expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “I have been playing chess for more than 30 years, and although I have won several medals, this is the first time I have been felicitated in such a grand manner. I sincerely thank the AICF for this recognition and the media for their unwavering support."
"I know that, most of the time, cricket is considered the major sport in our country, but we have immense talent in other sports, including chess. There are many young players who are eager to make their mark on the international stage — they just need a little push to achieve greatness," she added.
As the AICF announced a total of Rs 2.2 crore in cash rewards, both players will be looking to make 2025 a memorable year. Gukesh is set to participate in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, the first major event of the chess calendar year, scheduled from January 17 to February 2 in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.