D Gukesh replaces Viswanathan Anand as India's top chess player after 37 years

Viswanathan Anand, a five-time world champion is currently ranked No.9. As per the FIDE ratings effective September 1, D Gukesh's rating is 2758 while Anand's is 2754. D Gukesh has gained three places in the rating list since August 1.

Hyderabad: Teenaged Grandmaster D Gukesh has replaced the legendary Viswanathan Anand as India's top chess player after over three decades. Viswanathan Anand has been India's No.1 since July 1986.

The 17-year-old Chennai GrandMaster, who recently lost in the quarterfinals of the FIDE World Cup in Baku to eventual champion Magnus Carlsen, moved ahead of Viswanathan Anand to be ranked No.8 in the world. D Gukesh broke into the top 10 of the FIDE rating list for the first time.

Viswanathan Anand, a five-time world champion is currently ranked No.9. As per the FIDE ratings effective September 1, D Gukesh's rating is 2758 while Anand's is 2754. D Gukesh has gained three places in the rating list since August 1.

Another teen prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, who made the world take notice of him by reaching the World Cup final where he lost to Magnus Carlsen, has risen to No. 19 in the list with a rating of 2727. He is India's No.3 player behind D Gukesh and Anand. There are five Indians currently in the top 30 and that includes Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (no.27) and Arjun Erigaisi (no.29). The experienced P Harikrishna is 31st.

D Gukesh had overtaken his idol and mentor Viswanathan Anand in the live world (FIDE) rankings during the World Cup in Baku. Viswanathan Anand, who has been the India No.1 since 1 July 1986, has relinquished the top spot after over 37 years.

"Gukesh D won again today and has overcome Viswanathan Anand in live rating! There is still almost a month till the next official FIDE rating list on September 1, but it's highly likely that the 17-year-old will be making it to the top 10 in the world as the highest-rated Indian player," the International Chess Federation (FIDE) had said in a post on X site, formerly known as Twitter after Gukesh defeated Azerbaijan's Misratdin Iskandarov in the second round of the World Cup recently to go past the chess maestro in live ratings.

D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, who have been picked as part of the Indian squad for the forthcoming Asian Games, will take part in a preparatory camp in Kolkata and then participate in the Tata Steel Chess India tournament from September 5. (With PTI inputs)