Continuing his meteoric rise in the world of chess, 18-year-old D Gukesh has dethroned his compatriot Arjun Erigaisi to become the highest-ranked Indian player, achieving a career-high fourth spot in the latest FIDE rankings released on Thursday.
Gukesh’s impressive feat came after he secured his second victory in the prestigious Tata Steel Tournament in Wijk Aan Zee, where he triumphed over Germany’s Vincent Keymer. With this victory, Gukesh now holds 2784 rating points, while Erigaisi, who had been the highest-ranked Indian for an extended period, has slipped to fifth place with 2779.5 rating points.
Magnus Carlsen Leads the World
Despite Gukesh’s rise, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen remains the undisputed world No. 1, with a commanding 2832.5 points. The top three is rounded out by the United States’ Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who is second with 2802 points, and Fabiano Caruana, also from the United States, who sits third with 2798 points.
Gukesh’s Rise to the Top
Gukesh’s ascent to the top ranks has been nothing short of spectacular. The young prodigy clinched the world championship title in December 2024 in Singapore, defeating China’s Ding Liren in a thrilling encounter. Following his historic win, Gukesh took a brief break from competitive chess to attend functions and celebrations back home in India, opting to skip the World Rapid and Blitz Championship held in New York.
Since his return to competitive play, Gukesh has continued his sensational form in Wijk Aan Zee. He has yet to lose a game in the ongoing tournament, with two victories and three draws under his belt, and with eight rounds still remaining, his path to further success looks promising.
Rising Star’s Continued Dominance
Gukesh’s performance in the Tata Steel Tournament highlights not only his technical brilliance but also his consistency at the highest level of competitive chess. His rapid rise has made waves globally, with many eyes now on the young Indian prodigy as he continues to challenge the world’s best.
