Gukesh seeks blessings at Tirumala ahead of World Championship defence

On November 7, 2026, reigning World Chess Champion D Gukesh visited Tirumala’s Sri Venkateswara Temple to seek blessings ahead of his World Championship title defence against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov.

The 14-game championship will be held in Geneva from November 24 to December 12.

Both players will be 20, making it the youngest World Championship clash in chess history, and the tournament carries a USD 2.5 million prize fund.