Rasika RatnaparkhiOctober 17, 2026
2 min read
New commercial partner for Gukesh
World Champion D Gukesh has teamed up with OBT Sports & Entertainment, which will exclusively represent him for commercial opportunities.
A new partnership for Gukesh’s brand journey! | Photo: Michal Walusza
OBT will handle Gukesh’s brand partnerships, endorsements, commercial strategy, content collaborations and public relations in both Indian and international markets. Their aim is to build long-term value creation. OBT will look for partners that match Gukesh’s personality, achievements and aspirations.
As per media reports, this is what Gukesh said about the partnership:
As I continue my journey in chess, I’m keen to explore opportunities that resonate with my values, interests and aspirations beyond the game. For me, it’s important to build partnerships that are meaningful, authentic and have the potential to sustain over time. I look forward to working with OBT Sports & Entertainment to create the right value and build a long-term vision for my journey, both in India and globally.
Gukesh’s off-the-board game gets a boost! | Photo: Eng Chin An
Yash Kharote, Head of Talent and Servicing at OBT Sports and Entertainment, said:
Gukesh has remarkable clarity about where he wants to go as a global personality, which already reflects in his growth trajectory. He has a very clear vision for the impact, with the values and the kind of impact. His achievements have already given him a global platform, and we believe there is tremendous potential to build on that in a meaningful and authentic way. Our focus at OBT will be to create the right value for Gukesh, beyond just commercials, with partnerships and opportunities that complement his journey. We wish to establish Gukesh as one of the most recognised and influential young sports personalities globally.
Gukesh with Yash Kharote.
Gukesh’s market value has grown quickly since he became World Champion. Before the title win, his only endorsement was with RBL Bank. He has since worked with Britannia, Myntra, Cadbury, Amul and Sony TV’s Kaun Banega Crorepati.
This isn’t his first time with a talent management agency either. In December 2022, FairPlay Sports signed him as an exclusive talent when he was 16 and India’s No. 3. A lot has changed in four years!
At the very top level, chess players need a team of seconds, world-class coaching and carefully chosen tournaments. All of this is very expensive. That’s why sponsorships matter. Chess also doesn’t have the commercial machinery of cricket or football. A specialist team lets the player focus on their sport while they handle these opportunities.
Gukesh led India to its first-ever Open gold at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest in 2024! | Photo: Michal Walusza
Gukesh became the youngest World Champion in 2024. At the Chess Olympiads, he won individual gold in 2022, 2024 and 2026. His performances helped the Indian Open team win bronze in 2022, its first-ever gold in 2024 and silver in 2026. So many young players look up to Gukesh. Deals like this one also show how far chess has come in India, and there is still more to go!
For Gukesh, the next challenge is to defend his title against Javokhir Sindarov in November. The match will begin on 24th November 2026.
Gukesh will defend his crown against Javokhir Sindarov in Geneva. | Photo: FIDE
About the author
Rasika Ratnaparkhi
Rasika loves storytelling. She has a soft spot for fun and unusual stories. She often goes down rabbit holes chasing interesting details. Luckily, she is a writer, so she calls it research!
