India young chess star D Gukesh has climbed to World No. 3 in the latest FIDE classical rankings, marking a historic milestone in his career. Meanwhile, R Praggnanandhaa has made his way back into the top 10, giving Indian chess another proud moment on the global stage.
Gukesh Incredible Rise
The 18-year-old Grandmaster has been in sensational form ever since he defeated China Ding Liren to become the youngest world champion in December 2024. His latest performance has earned him 10 additional rating points, bringing his FIDE rating to 2787.
Gukesh is now ranked just behind:
🥈 Hikaru Nakamura (USA) – 2802
🥇 Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – 2833
This ranking puts him ahead of Arjun Erigaisi and Fabiano Caruana, both of whom were previously ranked higher.
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Praggnanandhaa Back in the Top 10
17-year-old Praggnanandhaa, fresh off his Tata Steel Masters victory, has regained his place in the top 10 for the first time since July last year. His 2758 rating has placed him at World No. 8.
On the other hand, Arjun Erigaisi, who was India’s highest-ranked player for a while, has now slipped to World No. 5 with a 2777 rating.
Indian Women in Global Chess Rankings
In the women’s category, Koneru Humpy continues to be India’s top player, holding the World No. 6 spot with a rating of 2528.
- R Vaishali (2484) is ranked 14th
- Harika Dronavalli (2483) is ranked 16th
India Chess Dominance on the Rise
With multiple Indian players now among the world best, the country is experiencing a golden era in chess. Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa are proving that India is a force to be reckoned with in the global chess scene!