India’s D. Gukesh has reached a career-best ranking of World No. 3 in the recent FIDE chess rankings, a record-breaking feat for Indian chess. The 17-year-old talent’s emergence follows even though he recently lost on tiebreak to fellow Indian GM R. Praggnanandhaa in the 2024 Candidates Tournament, where the two young greats demonstrated their immense talent.
While that’s happening, Praggnanandhaa has regained the top 10, more cementing India’s increasing leadership in the world of chess. At a mere 18 years of age, he keeps one amazed at his strategic richness and endurance against several of the greatest players on earth. His recapture of the top shelf only strengthens India’s outlook for the sport, in line with greats like legendary Viswanathan Anand.
Gukesh’s meteoric rise in the rankings is a reflection of his consistent results against top-ranked players, as he inches closer to taking on World Champion Ding Liren and World No. 2 Fabiano Caruana. His aggressive style of play and capacity to stand his ground against seasoned grandmasters have gained him universal acclaim.
With both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa firmly entrenched among the world’s top players, Indian chess is entering a golden era. The chess calendar in the coming months holds the promise of thrilling encounters, and fans are waiting with bated breath for their sustained success at the international level.
