Gukesh D claims top spot as India's #1 chess player, surpassing Viswanathan Anand

In a historic achievement, 17-year-old chess sensation Dommaraju Gukesh has emerged as India's top chess player, surpassing the legendary Viswanathan Anand's live ratings record that stood unbroken for 36 years. Gukesh's remarkable feat comes on the heels of his impressive performance in the ongoing FIDE Chess World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan.

During the tournament, Gukesh secured a significant victory over Misratdin Iskandaro, which catapulted his live rating to an impressive 2755.9, narrowly surpassing Anand's rating of 2754.0. The young Grandmaster's meteoric rise in rankings began when he broke into the top 100 players worldwide in 2023. Presently, he holds an impressive world ranking of 11, based on FIDE's monthly list. However, it is the live ratings that dynamically change on a daily basis, depending on players' performances in recent matches.

Notably, Gukesh's exceptional achievements did not stop there. In July, he became the youngest chess player ever to cross the coveted 2750 rating mark, outdoing the record previously held by five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen, who has dominated as World No. 1 since July 2011. Carlsen's current live rating stands at an impressive 2838.4, with the US' Fabiano Caruana following closely at 2786.4.

The FIDE Chess World Cup, taking place until August 25, holds immense significance as it serves as a qualifier for the highly anticipated 2024 Chess World Championship. This prestigious event has attracted a total of 17 Indian participants, including Gukesh, Vidit Gujrathi, Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, S L Narayanan, Abhimanyu Puranik, Adhiban B, Karthik Venkataraman, Harsha Bharathakoti, Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali R, Divya Deshmukh, Nandhidhaa P V, Mary Ann Gomesh, and Priyanka Nutakki, as reported by ChessBase India.

Gukesh's extraordinary talent, coupled with his impressive achievements, has sparked excitement and admiration within the chess community. As he continues to make strides in the world of chess, his journey promises to inspire and captivate enthusiasts and aspiring players alike.