December 16, 2024: Indian grandmaster D Gukesh made history by becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at just 18 years old, defeating reigning champion Diren Ling . This victory also makes Gukesh only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to claim the prestigious title.

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While the nation cheered Gukesh's remarkable achievement, a section of fans took to social media to troll the Income Tax Department and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Their focus? The massive ₹4.67 crore tax Gukesh is expected to pay on his ₹11.34 crore prize money.

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Gukesh's total earnings from the World Chess Championship stand at ₹11.34 crore (approximately $1.35 million). In India, with a 30% tax slab and an added surcharge, his tax liability is estimated at around ₹4.67 crore.

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The 2024 World Chess Championship had a total prize pool of $2.5 million. According to FIDE rules, the money is split based on wins:

Reflecting on his achievement, Gukesh said, 'I've been dreaming of this moment for the last 10 years. I got emotional because I wasn't expecting to win, but then I found my chance to press on. Every chess player wants to live this moment, and now I'm living my dream. I'd like to thank God from the Candidates to the Championship.'

While fans praised Gukesh's success, others humorously congratulated the tax department for their 'win' too. Comments such as 'Income tax is the real champion here' and 'Nirmala Sitharaman must be cheering louder than anyone' flooded social media platforms. Some even joked that Gukesh deserved an 'extra title' for managing taxes as well as chess strategy.