Dommaraju Gukesh Becomes India’s Top-Ranked Chess Player

17-year-old chess prodigy D Gukesh won against Misratdin Iskandarov, becoming India’s top-ranked player and surpassing his idol Viswanathan Anand in live world chess rankings. 

Gukesh’s recent victory in the World Cup brought his live rating to 2755.9, overtaking Anand’s 2754.0. This makes Gukesh the new World No. 9, while Anand dropped to 10th. 

Anand had held the top spot among Indian players since January 1987. Gukesh’s rise is notable as he’s expected to reach the top 10 in the official FIDE rating list in September. 

He will now face fellow Indian player S L Narayanan in the next round. In addition, other Indian players like R Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, D Harika, and R Vaishali have advanced to the third round as well.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin congratulated 17-year-old chess prodigy D Gukesh for becoming India’s top chess player, surpassing Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand in the live world rankings. 

Gukesh’s performance has garnered attention, and his upcoming match against an Azerbaijani opponent will determine if he advances to the second round. 

He is also close to surpassing Alireza Firouzja, another talented player. Gukesh is the third Indian to enter the top 10 in the world, following Anand and Pentala Harikrishna.

Anand, India’s first grandmaster, has been mentoring Gukesh through the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy. During a recent match, Anand noticed a change in Gukesh’s demeanor, realizing he was focused and serious. 

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Gukesh’s rise is seen as a significant step for Indian chess. Despite potentially surpassing Anand in rankings, Gukesh respects Anand’s legacy and considers him his hero. Their relationship is a positive connection between a legend and an aspiring talent.