The international chess federation (FIDE) expressed their excitement through a tweet after witnessing the victory of 17-year-old Grandmaster D Gukesh in the second round of the World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, against home favourite Misratdin Iskandarov on Tuesday. This triumph pushed Gukesh past his role model, Viswanathan Anand, in the live world (FIDE) rankings.
According to FIDE’s tweet, Gukesh’s recent win has elevated him in the live rating, surpassing Viswanathan Anand. With almost a month until the next official FIDE rating list on September 1, there’s a high probability that the 17-year-old will secure a position in the top 10 world rankings, becoming the highest-rated Indian player.
This achievement marked a significant moment in Indian chess history. For the first time since 1987, there is an Indian player ranked above Anand in the published lists.
Following his victory, Gukesh’s live rating increased to 2755.9, gaining 2.5 rating points. Meanwhile, Anand’s live rating stands at 2754.0. This change in ratings made Gukesh the new World No. 9, while Anand moved down to No. 10.
In the third round, Gukesh was set to compete against compatriot S L Narayanan.
Thursday proved to be a fruitful day for several Indian players. GM R Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, D Harika, and R Vaishali all progressed to the next round.
On a personal note, Gukesh hails from Chennai and comes from a family of professionals. His father, Rajnikanth, is an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) surgeon, who chose to focus on his son’s career by giving up his practice. His mother, Padma, is a microbiologist. In October 2022, Gukesh achieved fame as the youngest player to defeat the then World Champion, Magnus Carlsen.
Off the chessboard, Gukesh enjoys sports like cricket and badminton, and he has a fondness for chaat dishes. He is also a fan of the film ‘Baahubali’. Now, through his remarkable performances in the game of chess, he is scripting his own epic tale.
Following his success, Gukesh’s live rating has surged to 2755.9 after gaining 2.5 rating points. Meanwhile, Anand‘s live rating now stands at 2754.0, causing Gukesh to replace him as the World No. 9 in the live rankings. Anand, who initially entered the top 10 in 1991, has moved down to No. 10.
The third round holds even more anticipation as Gukesh is scheduled to compete against his compatriot, S L Narayanan.
Gukesh, hailing from Chennai, comes from a family of professionals. His father, Rajnikanth, chose to set aside his successful career as an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) surgeon to focus on supporting his son’s chess career. Meanwhile, his mother, Padma, is a microbiologist. Gukesh’s potential was showcased in October 2022 when he became the youngest player to defeat the reigning World Champion, Magnus Carlsen.
Beyond his chess prowess, Gukesh has diverse interests. He finds enjoyment in sports like cricket and badminton and has a special fondness for chaat dishes. Additionally, he is an avid fan of the film ‘Baahubali’. Now, Gukesh himself is creating an epic narrative with his remarkable performances in the historic game of chess. The chess world eagerly awaits the next chapter in his inspiring journey.