D Gukesh Named 'Titan Of The Year'; Honoured With Custom Grandmaster Watch

Last Updated:February 13, 2026, 13:50 IST

D Gukesh, youngest-ever world chess champion, received the Titan of the Year award and a custom Titan Grandmaster watch in Mumbai.

Reigning world champion D Gukesh has been honoured with the ‘Titan of the Year’ award by Titan Company, which also unveiled a 500-piece limited-edition watch in tribute to his rise.

Gukesh scripted history in late 2024, becoming the youngest-ever world chess champion at just 18 after defeating Ding Liren. He is only the second Indian to win the world title after Viswanathan Anand.

Titan announced the special edition — the Titan Grandmaster — at an event in Mumbai on February 6, celebrating Gukesh as the second recipient of the ‘Titan of the Year’ honour and the first from the sporting world.

Last year’s award went to Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to travel to space in 1984, with Titan unveiling a ‘Unity watch’ in his name.

“Gukesh never rushed the moment. While others chased speed, he chose stillness. While the clock counted down, his clarity only grew sharper," Titan wrote on X.

“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," they added.

Priced at Rs 69,995, the watch features chess-inspired detailing — a Queen at 12 o’clock, Rook at 9, Bishop at 3 and King at 6, with pawns marking the remaining hours. A chessboard motif is also engraved on the dial.

On the board, though, the focus shifts quickly.

Gukesh endured a mixed 2025 and began this year with an underwhelming outing at the Tata Steel Chess Masters. His next big test looms in 2026, when he will defend his world title.

The challenger will be decided at the upcoming Candidates Tournament, where compatriot R Praggnanandhaa is among the eight contenders.

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