Chess
TATA Steel Chess: Gukesh becomes World No. 3, Praggnanandhaa beats Caruana
Gukesh currently has 2793 points, just one point below his best rating, and he is India’s number one.
D Gukesh in action during a chess event. (File Photo: PTI)
Indian chess sensation and reigning world champion Gukesh has climbed to No. 3 in the FIDE rankings after drawing against China’s Wei Yi in Round 11 of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament.
Praggnanandhaa’s victory over Fabiano Caruana also aided his rise in the standings.
Over the past 11 rounds in Wijk aan Zee, Gukesh has gained 16 rating points, pushing his FIDE rating to 2793—just one point shy of his career-best 2794, which he achieved in October 2024. This impressive performance has also made him India’s top-ranked player, surpassing Arjun Erigaisi, who has struggled in this event.
With only two rounds left in the tournament, Gukesh leads the standings, while Praggnanandhaa and Nodirbek Abdusattorov are half a point behind in joint second place. The 18-year-old Chennai-born grandmaster is competing in his first event since becoming the youngest world champion in history last month when he defeated Ding Liren in Singapore.
In Round 11, Gukesh faced Wei Yi with the white pieces and opted for a solid Italian Opening. The game remained balanced throughout, eventually concluding in a draw after an evenly matched rook and pawn endgame.
Now, with the final rounds approaching, all eyes are on Gukesh as he aims to cap off his remarkable tournament run with a title victory.
