Chess is a captivating game that has enthralled minds for centuries, engaging players in a battle of wits, strategy, and foresight. India, with its rich cultural heritage and deep-rooted fascination for intellectual pursuits, has produced numerous exceptional chess players who have left an indelible mark on the international chess arena. In this blog, we will explore the top 10 Indian chess players who have made significant contributions to the game and achieved remarkable feats on the global stage.
10] Abhijeet Gupta
Abhijeet Gupta is an Indian chess player and Grandmaster (GM) who was born on October 16, 1989, in Bhilwara, India. He holds the impressive record of winning the Commonwealth Chess Championship five times. Gupta’s achievements started at a young age, as he became Rajasthan’s senior champion at just 11 years and eight months old in 2001. At 13 years and 10 days, he became the youngest National junior (under-19) champion, earning a place in the Limca Book of Records in 2002. Gupta obtained the title of International Master (IM) in 2005 at the age of 15 and achieved the prestigious Grandmaster title at 18.
Abhijeet Gupta, an Indian chess grandmaster, has had an illustrious career marked by remarkable achievements. In 2008, he became the third Indian to win the World Junior Chess Championship. Gupta’s prowess extends to the Commonwealth Chess Championship, where he has been crowned champion five times. He has also engaged in thrilling matches against other esteemed Indian grandmasters like S.L. Narayanan and Gukesh. Gupta’s contributions are not limited to individual tournaments, as he has proudly represented India in team events such as the World Team Chess Championship.
Gupta, one of the notable Indian chess players, has continued to shine with his remarkable achievements. His victories at the Graz Open stand as a testament to his success, leading India to an outstanding 16 out of 17 gold medals. Gupta’s exceptional skills were on display in Titled Tues, where he secured impressive scores of 7.5/8 and 2.5/3 against renowned players such as Naka, Fabi, and Firouzja. Although he faced a setback in round 9 against Duda, resulting in a forfeiture, Gupta remains highly regarded for his sportsmanship and is recognized as a true gentleman of chess.
Some of the achievements of Abhijeet Gupta:
- Third Indian winner of the World Junior Chess Championship in 2008.
- First player to win the Commonwealth Chess Championship five times.
- National Junior (Under-19) Chess Champion at the age of 13 years in 2002.
- Became an International Master in 2005 and an International Grand Master in 2008.
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9] Aravindh Chithambaram
Aravindh Chithambaram Veerappan is an accomplished Indian chess grandmaster. He began playing chess at the age of seven under the guidance of his grandfather. Aravindh won the Indian U19 Chess Championship at the age of 12 and achieved a second-place finish in the World U14 Chess Championship. He has also emerged victorious in the Indian chess championships on two occasions, in 2018 and 2019.
In his career, Aravindh has achieved significant milestones. He has been crowned the Indian chess champion twice, in 2018 and 2019. At the age of 22, he is a Grandmaster with a rating of 2613. His recent accomplishments include winning the National Rapid Chess Championship and the Delhi International GM Open in 2023. Aravindh is known not only for his chess prowess but also for his humble and down-to-earth personality.
Some of his remarkable games include defeating Grandmaster Levan Pantsulaia in the final round of the 20th Delhi International and securing a victory against Volodar Murzin at the Delhi GM 2023 tournament.
Some of the achievements of Aravindh Chithambaram:
- Winning the Indian Chess Championship twice, in 2018 and 2019.
- Becoming the Indian U19 Chess Champion at the age of 12.
- Achieving his highest ranking of 2641.
- Winning the 20th edition of the New Delhi Open.
8] S.L Narayana
S.L. Narayanan is an Indian chess player who was born on January 10, 1998, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. He achieved the prestigious title of Grandmaster in 2015, making him the 41st Grandmaster from India. As of March 2023, he is ranked No. 5 in India and No. 76 in the world, with a FIDE rating of 2664.
Narayanan has showcased his chess prowess by winning the Asian U-16 title in 2012 and securing the gold medal in the Asian Junior Blitz Chess Championship in 2016. Throughout his career, he has received guidance and training from experienced chess players such as former Kerala State Champion P. Sreekumar, International Master Varugeese Koshy, and Grandmaster Praveen Thipsay.
Narayanan has represented India in various prestigious chess tournaments, including the Julius Baer Generation Cup, World Team Championship, and Asian Continental Championship.
Some of the achievements of S L Narayanan:
- Won the Grandiscacchi Cattolica International Open held in Italy in 2022.
- Won the 23rd Sant International Chess Tournament in Spain in 2022.
- Member of the India ‘A’ team which finished fourth at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai.
- Earned the title of Grandmaster in 2015 and is the 41st Grandmaster from India
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7] Nihal Sarin
Nihal Sarin, a young chess prodigy from India, made history by becoming a Grandmaster at the age of 14. Born on July 13, 2004, in Thrissur, Kerala, he has gained recognition for his outstanding talent and achievements in chess.
At the remarkable age of 14, Nihal earned the prestigious title of Grandmaster, making him one of the youngest players ever to achieve this feat. He currently ranks among the top 10 Chess players in India. In 2018, Nihal made waves by surpassing an Elo rating of 2600, becoming the third youngest player at that time to reach this milestone. He is also the fourth youngest player in history to exceed the Elo rating of 2600.
Nihal’s impressive record includes winning notable championships like the U-10 World Blitz Championship in 2013 and the U-10 World Youth Chess Championship in 2014. In 2020, he emerged as the champion in Chess.com’s Junior Speed Chess Championship and secured a gold medal representing India in the FIDE Chess Olympics. He also claimed victory in the U-18 World Youth Championship. Nihal achieved his highest rating of 2662 in December 2021, demonstrating his continuous growth and development in the game.
Some of the achievements of Nihal Sarin:
- Won the U-18 World Youth Championship held online in rapid format in 2020
- Won the Gold Medal as part of the Indian team in the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad 2020
- Achieved the title of Grandmaster at age 14
- Passed the Elo rating of 2600 at 14 years old, which at the time made him the third youngest player in history to do so
6] R Praggnanandhaa
R Praggnanandhaa, an exceptional Indian chess player, was born on August 10, 2005, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He hails from a family of chess enthusiasts, with his sister R Vaishali being a Woman Grandmaster and International Master. Praggnanandhaa’s journey in chess began at the tender age of 5, and he quickly rose to prominence with his remarkable talent.
In 2016, Praggnanandhaa etched his name in the chess history books by becoming the world’s youngest International Master at just 10 years old. His exceptional abilities didn’t stop there, as he went on to achieve the title of Grandmaster at the age of 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days, making him the fourth-youngest Grandmaster in history. R Praggnanandhaa’s abilities propelled him to the top ten Indian chess players.
Throughout his career, Praggnanandhaa has displayed remarkable prowess in various chess tournaments. He emerged victorious in the World Youth Chess Championship in the Under-8 and Under-10 categories, showcasing his immense potential even at a young age. He has also participated in prestigious events such as the Tata Steel Chess Tournament and the AirThings Masters, where he showcased his skills by defeating the reigning world number one, Magnus Carlsen, multiple times.
Praggnanandhaa is one of the talented Indian chess players, gained attention not only through his victories against strong opponents but also by defeating Ding Liren, an esteemed SuperGM and a member of the world’s top 10 players. This impressive accomplishment showcased Praggnanandhaa’s exceptional skills and his capacity to compete at the highest echelons of ches
Reference-Praggnanandhaa: Who is Praggnanandhaa
Some of the achievements of R Praggnanandhaa :
- In 2013, he won the World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 title, earning him the title of FIDE Master at the age of 7.
- In 2015, he won the Under-10 title at the World Youth Chess Championship.
- In November 2017, he won his first Grandmaster norm at the World Junior Championships in Tarvisio
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5] Arjun Erigaisi
Arjun Erigaisi, a remarkable Indian chess grandmaster, was born on September 3, 2003, in Warangal, Telangana, India. Regarded as a chess prodigy, he achieved the esteemed title of grandmaster at a remarkably young age of 14 years, 11 months, and 13 days, making him the 32nd youngest grandmaster in history. With an impressive FIDE rating of 2701 as of April 2023, he holds the distinction of being the 54th grandmaster from India.
Arjun’s talent and dedication have garnered him notable victories and recognition in the world of chess. In 2022, he emerged triumphant in the Indian National Championship and the 28th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, showcasing his exceptional skills and strategic brilliance. Furthermore, he has also achieved remarkable success in three Tata Steel Chess events.
Recognized as one of the brightest talents in Indian chess, Arjun Erigaisi has received praise from none other than Magnus Carlsen, the world champion himself. Despite his young age, Arjun has fearlessly faced experienced opponents like Boris Gelfand and displayed a humble and sportsmanlike attitude by apologizing to his opponents after certain games.
Some of the Achievements of Arjun Erigasi:
- Became India’s 54th chess grandmaster in August 2018 at the age of 14 years, 11 months, 13 days
- Won the 2022 Indian National Championship
- Won the 28th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival in August 2022
- Won Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Blitz in December 2022
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4] Harikrishna Pentala
Harikrishna Pentala, commonly known as Pentala Harikrishna, is an esteemed Indian chess player. Born on May 10, 1986, in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, he has established himself as a prominent figure among Indian chess players.
Harikrishna has won various titles throughout his career, including the Indian Under-08, Under-10, Under-14, Under-15, and Under-18 titles. In addition to the World Under-10 Championship in 1996, he also won the Commonwealth Chess Championship in 1999, the World Junior Championship in 2004, and the Asian Individual Championship in 2011.
Harikrishna became India’s youngest Grandmaster (GM) in 2001, when he was 15 years old. Harikrishna’s incredible chess journey began in 2000, when he earned the title of International Master (IM), indicating his early talent and dedication to the game. The following year, at the tender age of fifteen he became the youngest Grandmaster from India at that time.
Reference- Pentala Harikrishna – Wikipedia
Some of the Achievements of Pentala Harikrishna:
- Became the youngest grandmaster from India after attaining the title in 2001
- Commonwealth Champion in 2001
- World Junior Champion in 2004
- Asian Individual Champion in 2011
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3] Vidit Santosh Gujrathi
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, born on October 24, 1994, is an accomplished Indian chess grandmaster. He achieved the prestigious title of grandmaster in January 2013, becoming the 30th player from India to attain this distinction.
Vidit, one of the prominent Indian chess players, holds the third-highest rating in India as of 2023, with only Gukesh D ranked higher
Throughout his career, Vidit has secured victories in various chess tournaments, including the under-14 world championship, the 2018 Tata Steel Challengers, and the 2019 Biel tournament. He has also represented India in the Indian Olympiad teams of 2016 and 2018, playing as the third board in both years. The Indian team achieved commendable fourth and sixth place finishes in those respective years.
Vidit’s journey in chess began with him earning the title of FIDE Master (FM) in 2005, followed by the title of International Master (IM) in 2009. His dedication and skill culminated in 2013 when he reached the pinnacle of chess excellence by becoming a Grandmaster (GM).
Reference- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidit_Gujrath
Some of the Achievements of Vidit Gujrathi:
- Became a grandmaster in January 2013, becoming the 30th player from India to do so.
- Fourth Indian player to have crossed the Elo rating threshold of 2700.
- Defeated five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen.
- Currently ranked No. 23 in the world and No. 3 in India (as of May 2023)
2] Gukesh D
Gukesh D, also known as D. Gukesh, is a young Indian chess prodigy who has garnered significant attention in the world of chess. Born on May 29, 2006, in Tamil Nadu, India.
Gukesh’s journey in chess began when he started playing the game at the age of seven. Gukesh has had an impressive chess career, winning the Under-9 section of the Asian School Chess Championships in 2015 and the World Youth Chess Championships in 2018 in the Under-12 category.
In 2015, Gukesh earned the title of Candidate Master (CM), marking his first significant accomplishment in chess. He continued to progress rapidly in his chess career. In 2018, at the age of 12, Gukesh achieved the title of International Master (IM), signifying his exceptional chess skills and accomplishments. Furthermore, in 2019, Gukesh earned the prestigious title of Grandmaster (GM)He also won five gold medals at the 2018 Asian Youth Chess Championships in various categories.
On October 16, 2022, at the age of 16, he gained popularity for becoming the youngest player ever to defeat the world champion Magnus Carlsen. Gukesh D is without a doubt one of the top Indian chess players.
Some of the Achievements of D Gukesh:
- Became a Grandmaster at the age of 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days, making him the second-youngest person in history to qualify for the title.
- Won the Under-9 section of the Asian School Chess Championships in 2015 and the World Youth Chess Championships in 2018 in the Under 12 category.
- Won five gold medals at the 2018 Asian Youth Chess Championships.
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1] Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand, popularly known as Vishy Anand, is a highly regarded as the best amongst other Indian chess players and a legend in the game’s history. Born on December 11, 1969, in Tamil Nadu, India, Anand’s extraordinary career and numerous accomplishments have solidified his status as a chess legend.
Anand’s journey in chess began at a young age, and his exceptional talent became evident early on. Introduced to the game by his mother at the age of six, he quickly made a name for himself. At just 16 years old in 1986, Anand became the youngest national chess champion in India, a remarkable achievement. The same year, he earned the title of International Master, further establishing his potential on the international stage.
In 1987, Anand made history by becoming the first Asian to win the World Junior Chess Championship, showcasing his exceptional abilities and setting the stage for his future successes.
At the age of 18 in 1988, Viswanathan Anand achieved the title of Grandmaster (GM), becoming India’s first-ever Grandmaster in chess, a significant milestone in his career.
Anand’s notable accomplishments include emerging as the World Chess Champion in 2000. He went on to defend his title successfully in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012, further solidifying his position among the chess elite.
Some Achievements of Viswanathan Anand:
- First grandmaster from India in 1988
- Surpassed an Elo rating of 2800 in 2006
- Won the Fédération International des Échecs (FIDE) world championship in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012
- Received the Arjuna Award (1985) and the Padma Shri (1987) from the Government of India for his distinguished work as a sport person.
- Padma Vibhushan {2008}
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