Indian chess is witnessing a new era with the emergence of youngsters like Gukesh, Praggnanadhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, Raunak Sadhwani etc!
GM Gukesh Dommaraju, the 17-year-old chess prodigy (born on May 29, 2006) from Chennai, achieved a historic milestone at the ongoing FIDE World Cup 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan, by dethroning his idol, mentor, and chess legend Vishwanathan Anand from the India No. 1 spot in the classical chess format and also capturing the 9th place in the world rankings.
Interestingly, Vishy was commentating live while this feat happened. With a smile, he said, "Gukesh has won! He is, as of today, the highest-rated Indian chess player. It is a live rating, but it is still a phenomenal performance.".
Gukesh will face fellow Indian GM S.L. Narayanan in the 3rd Round of the tournament.
You can watch the moment on FIDE's Youtube channel in the video titled 'FIDE World Cup 2023 | Round 2 | Game 2' at 4:09:00 minutes of the video.
- Anand is still the highest-rated Indian player and world no. 10 in the rapid format with a 2751 ELO rating. GM Vidit Gujrathi and GM Arjun Erigaisi follow him at world no. 33 and 34 respectively.
- Erigaisi Arjun is the highest-rated Indian blitz player and world no. 15 with a 2737 ELO rating. Vishy is the second highest-rated India played, positioned at world no. 23 in this format with 2709 ELO rating points.
Surpassing Anand - A Momentous Achievement:
Gukesh's triumph against GM Misratdin Iskandarov (Elo: 2559) in the 2nd round of the tournament not only made him India's new No. 1 in the classical format but also surpassed Vishy Anand as the country's highest-rated player in this category, and world no. 9. Anand, a five-time World Champion, had held this title for an impressive 37 years (since July 1986, when Anand was 16 years old) on every published rating list by FIDE.
A similar takeover occurred on 16th March 2016 by GM Pentala Harikrishna in the live rating. However, it didn't last until FIDE published the ratings, as Anand regained his India No. 1 spot soon after. Therefore, Gukesh has become the second Indian player to overtake Anand in the live ratings but still has to wait till FIDE publishes the new ratings on 1st September 2023 to become the first player (if he holds a rating above 2754) to go past Anand in the published ratings.
Breaking Records and Soaring Ratings:
Gukesh's journey to the top has been nothing short of exceptional. Just a few days ago, he became the youngest player in chess history to break into the 2750 rating club. Now, with two consecutive wins in the FIDE World Cup 2023, his live rating has jumped from 2751 to 2755.9, securing him a place in the world's coveted top 10 chess players.
Gukesh's Journey to the Top in a Nutshell:
- Surpassed Vishy Anand in live rating to become the new India no.1 - Aug 3, 2023
- The youngest player to reach 2750 ELO - Jul 21, 2023
- Grandmaster (GM) - 2019
- International Master (IM) - 2018
- Candidate Master (CM) - 2015
Anand's Contributions to Gukesh's Growth:
Vishwanathan Anand's immense contributions to Indian chess are well-known, and his efforts to nurture young talent continue to bear fruit. In 2020, Anand founded the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), which proved instrumental in honing the skills of promising players like Gukesh. The academy bearing the expenses provided Gukesh with GM Grzegorz Gajewski as his second, which bolstered his performance. The Polish GM Grzegorz Gajewski has been a second of Anand for several years!
#Gukesh Trends on Social Media! Wishes galore for the 17-year-old, here are some of the reactions on Twitter from noted people:
Gukesh's meteoric rise has not gone unnoticed, with prominent personalities, fans, and organizations congratulating him on social media and celebrating his achievement. FIDE, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu - M.K. Stalin, and influential figures like Anand Mahindra congratulated Gukesh on this incredible achievement! Here's what they said:
International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) Tweets:
"Gukesh D won again today and has overcome Viswanathan Anand in live rating! There is still almost a month till next official FIDE rating list on September 1, but it's highly likely that the 17-year-old will be making it to top 10 in the world as the highest-rated Indian player!"
Gukesh's mentor GM Vishnu Prasanna tweeted:
"Congratulations @DGukesh Staying at the top is definitely the most important challenge.!"
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin (@mkstalin) Tweets:
"Congratulations Grandmaster @DGukesh on your incredible achievement of entering the top 10 of the world (FIDE) rankings for the first time. Your determination and skill have propelled you to the top echelon of chess, making you the highest-rated Indian player. Your achievement is an inspiration to young talents everywhere and a proud moment for Tamil Nadu!"
Anand Mahindra (@anandmahindra):
"Bravo, @DGukesh! This pic with you as well as the few moves you ALLOWED me to play against you will be hugely valuable parts of my archive of memories…. May you rise to be the World’s Numero Uno… And @vishy64theking, it must feel strange to have someone overtake you, but how satisfying that it’s someone YOU inspired to play the game!"
The Future of Indian Chess:
Gukesh's ascent to the world's top 10 and his triumph over Anand as India's No. 1 player symbolize the burgeoning talent and potential that Indian chess possesses. His success has brought renewed attention to the sport in the country, inspiring and motivating young talents to pursue their passion for chess.
Conclusion:
Gukesh D. has ushered in a new era in Indian chess with this feat. Surpassing his mentor Vishwanathan Anand to become India's new No. 1 in the classical format and securing a spot in the top 10 players is a testament to his exceptional skill and dedication. As the world eagerly watches his journey, Gukesh's success is a beacon of hope for aspiring chess players and a source of immense pride for the Indian chess community. With Gukesh leading the way, the future of Indian chess looks incredibly bright.
You can follow Gukesh on Twitter (@DGukesh)
#NewEraBegins #Gukesh #ViswanathanAnand #Anand #FIDEWorldCup #Chess