After 37 years, D Gukesh succeeds Vishwanathan Anand as India’s top-ranked chess player

After more than three decades, the young Grandmaster D Gukesh has supplanted the famous Viswanathan Anand as India’s best chess player.

Anand has held the top spot in India since July 1986.

The 17-year-old Chennai GM, who recently lost to Magnus Carlsen in the FIDE global Cup quarterfinals in Baku, surpassed Anand to take up the No. 8 spot in the global rankings.

Gukesh made his first appearance in the top 10 on the FIDE rating list.

Five-time world champion Anand is now rated No. 9 in the world.

According to the FIDE ratings as of September 1, Gukesh is rated 2758, whereas Anand is rated 2754.

Since August 1, Gukesh has moved up three spots on the ranking list.

R Praggnanandhaa, another young prodigy who made headlines by competing in the World Cup final and losing to Carlsen, has climbed to No. 19 on the list with a rating of 2727. Behind Gukesh and Anand, he is India’s third-ranked player.

There are presently five Indians in the top 30, including Arjun Erigaisi (No. 29) and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (No. 27). P Harikrishna, an expert, is ranked 31st.

During the global Cup in Baku, Gukesh passed his hero and mentor Anand in the live global (FIDE) rankings.

After more than 37 years as the top player in India, Anand, who has held the position since July 1, 1986, has stepped down.

“Gukesh D triumphed one again today, defeating Viswanathan Anand in the live rating! The 17-year-old is currently the top-rated Indian player, and the next official FIDE rating list will be released on September 1. The international chess federation (FIDE) tweeted this after Gukesh recently defeated Azerbaijan’s Misratdin Iskandarov in the second round of the World Cup to surpass the chess master in live ratings.

Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, who were chosen to represent India in the next Asian Games, will attend a training camp in Kolkata before beginning competition in the Tata Steel Chess India event on September 5.