Jammu, April 27 -- India's teenage chess prodigy D Gukesh recently achieved a huge milestone by winning the Candidates Tournament, securing his place as the challenger for the World Chess Championship. However, with this newfound fame and recognition comes intense pressure and scrutiny. Upon returning home to India, the shy 17-year-old was overwhelmed by the massive crowds and media attention at the airport.

While popularity and respect for his accomplishments are certainly deserved, the intrusive nature of fans and media could threaten to distract Gukesh from his goal of continued self-improvement on the chessboard. Here, he may take a page from the champion himself, Magnus Carlsen.

For years, Carlsen has dominated the world of chess, ...