17-year-old Grandmaster Gukesh D surpasses Vishwanathan Anand to claim top Indian chess ranking

Indian teenage Grandmaster Gukesh D has achieved a remarkable feat by overtaking his idol Viswanathan Anand in the live world (FIDE) rankings with his victory against Misratdin Iskandarov in the FIDE World Cup on Tuesday.

The 17-year-old grandmaster’s triumph over home favourite Iskandarov in a second-round match of the World Cup propelled him to the top 10 of world (FIDE) rankings for the first time. Gukesh displayed his prowess by outclassing Azerbaijan’s Iskandarov in 44 moves during their encounter.

The international chess federation (FIDE) expressed its acknowledgement of Gukesh’s achievement, tweeting, “Gukesh D won again today and has overcome Viswanathan Anand in live rating! There is still almost a month till next official FIDE rating list on September 1, but it’s highly likely that 17-year-old will be making it to top 10 in the world as the highest-rated Indian player.”

Even Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin showered praises on the teenage prodigy, writing on Twitter, “Congratulations Grandmaster Gukesh D on your incredible achievement of entering the top 10 of world (FIDE) rankings for the first time. Your determination and skill have propelled you to the top echelon of chess, making you the highest-rated Indian player. Your achievement is an inspiration to young talents everywhere and a proud moment for Tamil Nadu!”

This monumental shift in the rankings signals a momentous juncture, as for the first time in 36 years, the legendary five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand will not claim the top Indian spot in the published classical chess rankings.

Teenager Gukesh’s ascent has been nothing short of meteoric. Having only broken into the top 100 in April 2022, he is now on the brink of entering the top 10 ranks globally. Gukesh joins a select group of individuals, with only two Indians – Pentala Harikrishna and Viswanathan Anand – having previously secured a spot in the top 10.

One of the easiest people to bet on: Vishwanathan Anand on Gukesh D

Hailing from Viswanathan Anand’s hometown Chennai, Dommaraju Gukesh’s chess journey began at the age of 7, propelled by his school’s affiliation with the Velammal group of schools. His first coach at his school, V Bhaskar, recognised his potential and helped him in his rapid rise to becoming a FIDE-rated player within just six months of starting the game.

Under the guidance of coach Vijayanand, Gukesh achieved international recognition, clinching titles such as the under-9 section at the 2015 Asian School Chess Championships and earning the Candidate Master’s (CM) title. His breakthrough victory came in 2018 when he secured the under-12 title at the World Youth Championships.

Gukesh achieved the prestigious International Master title at the age of 11 years, nine months, and nine days. His unwavering determination led him to pursue the Grandmaster’s title, which he earned in January 2019 at the age of 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days, narrowly missing the record set by GM Sergey Karjakin of Russia by just 17 days.

Gukesh achieved a live rating of 2700 in July 2022, solidifying his reputation as one of India’s biggest chess prodigies. His accomplishments extended to the 2022 FIDE Chess Olympiad, where he secured team bronze and individual gold. In 2023, Gukesh triumphed at the Junior Speed Chess Championship, defeating IM Emin Ohanyan, GM Pranav V, and GM Raunak Sadhwani.

In a milestone achievement, Gukesh surpassed the 2750 FIDE rating milestone, becoming the youngest player ever to do so, as per the chess website Chess.com.

The recent gain of 2.5 rating points propelled Gukesh’s live rating to 2755.9, enabling him to seize the coveted World No. 9 position in the live rankings, while Viswanathan Anand slipped to 10th.

Anand himself believes in the immense potential of his protege Gukesh, saying, “Did I think he could overtake me? It was inevitable that someone would. But he has even more potential [than just overtaking me]. He was one of the easiest people to bet on.”