India's 18-year-old Grandmaster D. Gukesh has etched his name in history by becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion.

India made history at the 45th Chess Olympiad, securing its first-ever gold medals in both the men's and women's team events. In a thrilling final round, the men's team emerged victorious over Slovenia, with Grandmasters D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R. Praggnanandhaa winning their respective matches. Meanwhile, the women's team dominated Azerbaijan, clinching the gold with a commanding 3.5-0.5 score.

A special moment of celebration came for the family of Ramesh Babu, as both of his children, R. Praggnanandhaa and R. Vaishali, played pivotal roles in their teams’ triumphs. Praggnanandhaa was a key figure in the men's team’s victory, while his elder sister, Vaishali, made significant contributions to the women’s gold medal win.

A heartwarming video of Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali, and their mother, Nagalakshmi, celebrating the historic victory went viral, garnering widespread praise, with many social media users commenting, "Indeed a proud mom," in recognition of their collective achievement.

Ramesh Babu expressed immense pride in his children's accomplishments, noting that the success of Indian chess players has greatly elevated the sport’s popularity in the country. "Chess has become very popular, second only to cricket. More and more young people are taking it up as a career option, alongside their academic pursuits," he remarked.

Looking ahead, Ramesh Babu emphasized that both Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali are focused on continuing their progress, with their eyes set on becoming world champions. "They need to keep improving their ratings, and that’s their focus right now," he said, signaling that the future of Indian chess is brighter than ever.

Born: 29 May 2006 (age 18 years), Chennai

Education: Velammal Vidyalaya Ayanambakkam

Peak rating: 2794 (October 2024)

Ranking: No. 5 (December 2024)

Title: Grandmaster (2019)

World Champion: 2024–present