The latest FIDE rankings, released on March 1st, 2025, showcased exceptional performances by Indian Grandmasters D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa.
Sports News: In the latest FIDE rankings released on March 1st, 2025, Indian Grandmasters D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa delivered outstanding performances. D. Gukesh achieved a career-best ranking, breaking into the world's top three players, while R. Praggnanandhaa returned to the top 10 after several months.
Gukesh's Historic Leap to World No. 3
Indian chess star D. Gukesh gained 10 rating points in the new FIDE rankings, achieving a total rating of 2787 and securing third place. He demonstrated a b performance at the recent Tata Steel Masters 2025, although he lost to R. Praggnanandhaa in the tie-break. Despite this, Gukesh maintained his excellent form and cemented his place in the world's top 3.
Currently, American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura holds second place with a rating of 2802, while Norway's former world champion Magnus Carlsen occupies the top spot with 2833 points.
Praggnanandhaa's Impressive Return to Top 10
This ranking was particularly significant for Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa, marking his return to the top 10 after approximately eight months. He showcased exceptional play at the recently concluded Prague Masters, earning 17 points and reaching 8th place with a total rating of 2758. He had dropped out of the top 10 in July 2024 but has now firmly re-established his position.
Performance of Other Indian Players
Arjun Erigaisi, who was India's top player some time ago, is now ranked fifth with 2777 points. In the women's rankings, India's Grandmaster Koneru Humpy remains in sixth place with 2528 points. The success of D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa demonstrates the growing global presence of Indian chess players. If they continue their current form, Indian Grandmasters may soon be contenders for the world number one ranking.
