Chennai: In a historic moment for Indian chess, young prodigies have made an unprecedented mark in the junior world rankings, claiming five remarkable positions, including the coveted top spot.
Grandmasters (GM) have spearheaded this remarkable feat, led by the top-ranked R. Praggnanandhaa with an Elo rating of 2747. The list further features D. Gukesh securing the third position with a rating of 2743, Nihal Sarin at sixth with a rating of 2693, Raunak Sadhwani ranking seventh with a rating of 2654, and Leon Luke Mendonca securing the tenth spot with a rating of 2631, as per the latest ranking list released by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Notably, Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh are set to participate in the upcoming Candidates Tournament in Canada. The tournament winner earns the opportunity to challenge the reigning World Chess Champion, Liren Ding (2762), for the prestigious world title.
In the girls’ section, two Indian players make their mark in the top 10, with Sarayu Velpula claiming the second rank with a rating of 2444, and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Divya Deshmukh securing the third rank with a rating of 2427.
In the women’s section, India’s seasoned GM Koneru Humpy holds the third position with a rating of 2554. Humpy is also slated to compete in the Women Candidates tournament in Canada.
While no Indian chess player currently ranks in the top ten in the Open category, the overall achievement reflects the rising prowess and dominance of Indian chess on the global stage.