R Praggnanandhaa Overtakes Gukesh To Become India’s Highest-Rated Chess Player

R Praggnanandhaa has emerged as India's top-ranked chess player in the latest live classical ratings, overtaking reigning World Champion D Gukesh. The 19-year-old achieved this career milestone after clinching victory at the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 by defeating Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov with the Black pieces in the decisive final round.

With this win, Praggnanandhaa's live rating surged to 2778.3, propelling him to fourth place in the global live rankings-his highest position ever. D Gukesh, who previously held the top national spot, now stands second among Indian players with a live rating of 2776.6. Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi, who was India's No. 1 just a day earlier, has dropped to sixth in the world rankings.

This remarkable achievement caps a standout year for Praggnanandhaa, who also claimed titles at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025 and the Grand Chess Tour Superbet Classic in Romania.

The UzChess Cup Masters saw a dramatic finish. Entering the final day, Praggnanandhaa was a point behind Abdusattorov and half a point behind Javokhir Sindarov. However, his must-win performance in the last round forced a three-way tie for the title. He went on to win the tiebreaks, sealing the championship and earning the distinction of being India's highest-rated player.

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand lauded Praggnanandhaa for his achievement, commending his composure and determination under intense pressure.

Praggnanandhaa's rise to the top marks a generational shift in Indian chess, with D Gukesh now trailing closely behind. On the global front, Magnus Carlsen continues to hold the No. 1 position, followed by Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana in second and third places, respectively.