Grandmaster D Gukesh, India's Top Chess Player In International Ranking

Teenaged Grandmaster D. Gukesh has replaced the legendary Viswanathan Anand as India's top chess player after more than three decades. Anand has been India's No.1 since July 1986. 

The 17-year-old Chennai Grandmaster, who recently lost in the quarterfinals of the FIDE World Cup in Baku to Magnus Carlsen, moved ahead of Anand to be ranked No.8 in the world.

Gukesh's entry into the top 10 of the FIDE rating list marks a significant milestone. He has climbed three places in the rating list since August 1.

According to the latest FIDE ratings, Gukesh boasts a rating of 2758, while Anand"s stands at 2754.

Another teen prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, who made the world take notice of him by reaching the World Cup final where he lost to Carlsen, has risen to No. 19 in the list with a rating of 2727. He is India’s No.3 player behind Gukesh and Anand.

There are five Indians currently in the top 30 and that includes Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (no.27) and Arjun Erigaisi (no.29). The experienced P Harikrishna is 31st

Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, who have been picked as part of the Indian squad for the forthcoming Asian Games, will take part in a preparatory camp in Kolkata and then participate in the Tata Steel Chess India tournament from September 5.

Note: The Asian Games 2023 will be held at Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, from September 23 to October 8, 2023.