D Gukesh, the 18-year-old chess prodigy, has risen to become India’s No. 1 chess player, replacing his compatriot Arjun Erigaisi after securing the fourth spot in the latest FIDE rankings released on Thursday. Gukesh’s ascent to the top follows his remarkable victory at the prestigious Tata Steel Tournament in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands, where he defeated Germany’s Vincent Keymer.
Gukesh’s latest triumph brings his rating to 2784 points, overtaking Erigaisi, who had long held the title of India’s highest-ranked player. Erigaisi, who previously occupied the fourth spot, has now dropped to fifth place with 2779.5 points.
Magnus Carlsen Retains World No. 1 Spot
Norway’s Magnus Carlsen continues to dominate the chess world, maintaining his position as the undisputed World No. 1 with 2832.5 points. He is followed by United States Grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura (2802) and Fabiano Caruana (2798).
Gukesh’s rise to the top is fueled by his exceptional performance in 2023, where he made global headlines by defeating China’s Ding Liren to clinch the World Chess Championship title in Singapore. After a brief break to attend various functions and festivities in India, Gukesh made his return to the chessboard by skipping the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in New York. His comeback has been impressive, remaining unbeaten in the ongoing Tata Steel Tournament, where he has earned two victories and three draws, with eight rounds still to play.
Erigaisi’s Struggles in Tata Steel Tournament
Meanwhile, Erigaisi, who achieved a career-high rating of 2801 in December last year, had been India’s top-ranked player since September. His breakthrough of crossing the 2800 rating mark made him only the second Indian after five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand to do so. However, Erigaisi has struggled in the current Tata Steel Tournament, having accumulated only one point so far, while Gukesh has earned 3.5 points.
Erigaisi also participated in the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in New York, hoping to secure a spot in the Candidates Tournament. Unfortunately, his performance was underwhelming, leaving him with little to show for his efforts.
With Gukesh now leading the charge as India’s top-ranked player, the chess world is watching closely to see how the young talent will continue to develop and challenge the global elite.
(With PTI Inputs)