In a landmark moment for Indian chess, R Praggnanandhaa has overtaken reigning world champion D Gukesh in the live FIDE world rankings, marking a dramatic reshuffle in the pecking order of Indian chess prodigies. With a live rating of 2777.2, Praggnanandhaa now stands as India’s No. 2, pushing Gukesh to third place nationally.
♟️ A Rivalry Redefined
The shift comes on the heels of Praggnanandhaa’s strong performance at the UzChess Cup Masters in Tashkent, where he secured a win in Round 2 after a draw in the opener. Meanwhile, Gukesh’s underwhelming finish at Norway Chess 2025—where he placed third—contributed to his rating dip.
This isn’t the first time Praggnanandhaa has bested Gukesh. Earlier this year, he defeated the world champion in a tense tie-breaker at the Tata Steel Chess Masters, clinching his maiden title and leaving Gukesh visibly emotional.
India’s Golden Generation
India now boasts four grandmasters in the world’s top 10, including Arjun Erigaisi, who currently holds the India No. 1 spot with a rating of 2780.7, and Aravindh Chithambaram, who recently broke into the top 10 after winning the Stepan Avagyan Memorial.
“2025 looks exciting,” Praggnanandhaa said after his Tata Steel triumph. “I trained a lot with my coach R.B. Ramesh. I’m not thinking about the Candidates yet, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come”.
🧠 What’s Next?
With the 2026 Candidates Tournament on the horizon, Praggnanandhaa leads the FIDE Circuit standings, positioning himself as a strong contender for a world title shot.
Stay tuned for more from India’s rising chess stars.
