Reigning world chess champion D Gukesh has been named the Titan of the Year by Titan Company and presented with a limited-edition Titan Grandmaster watch. The award ceremony took place in Mumbai on February 6, 2026, recognizing his historic achievement as the youngest-ever world champion. Gukesh, who defeated Ding Liren in late 2024, is the second Indian to claim the title after Viswanathan Anand.
D Gukesh, the 18-year-old Indian grandmaster, received the Titan of the Year award at an event in Mumbai on February 6, 2026. This honor marks him as the second recipient overall and the first from the sporting world. The previous awardee was Rakesh Sharma, India's first astronaut in 1984, who was commemorated with a Unity watch.
Titan Company unveiled the Titan Grandmaster, a 500-piece limited-edition timepiece priced at Rs 69,995, in tribute to Gukesh's rise. The watch incorporates chess-inspired elements: a Queen at 12 o'clock, Rook at 9, Bishop at 3, King at 6, and pawns for the remaining hours. A chessboard motif is engraved on the dial.
In a statement on X, Titan praised Gukesh's temperament: "Gukesh never rushed the moment. While others chased speed, he chose stillness. While the clock counted down, his clarity only grew sharper." They added, "In chess, time reveals temperament. In Gukesh, it revealed composure far beyond his years. To honour that calm command over seconds and decisions, we introduce the Titan Grandmaster, a 500-piece limited edition tribute watch."
Gukesh became the youngest world chess champion in late 2024 by defeating China's Ding Liren. He follows in the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand as only the second Indian world champion. Following his triumph, Gukesh had a mixed 2025 and started 2026 with an underwhelming performance at the Tata Steel Chess Masters.
Looking ahead, Gukesh will defend his title later in 2026. The challenger will emerge from the Candidates Tournament, where fellow Indian R Praggnanandhaa is one of eight participants.
