India’s Four Grandmasters Enter Top 10 Chess Rankings

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Well, India has undergone significant improvement and has leveled up to an unprecedented scale when it comes to professional chess. India’s golden generation has left no stone unturned in defeating the top-notch chess players from all over the world and creating a legacy that now resonates in the realms of the game and internationally.

Recently, in a groundbreaking moment of glory, India’s four grandmasters have flawlessly made their way into the top 10 of the global FIDE live chess rankings. Wondering who these four legendary Indian chess grandmasters are? Well, let’s find out.

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In this article we will take a look at the top four chess grandmasters from India who have entered the top ten chess rankings list.

India’s Four Grandmasters Enter Top 10 Chess Rankings

• Aravindh Chithambaram

The Indian chess grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram, who clinched the Indian chess championships twice, in 2018 and 2019, has recently made his entry into the top 10 of the global FIDE live chess rankings.

Aravindh first came into the limelight after he clinched the Indian U19 Chess Championship at the age of twelve and clinched his maiden major tournament in 2013 when he scored 9/11 for a performance rating of 2728 at the Chennai Grandmaster International Open, defeating four grandmasters and two international masters.

Aravindh earned his international master’s title in 2014 and his grandmaster title in 2015. In June 2025, Aravindh clinched the Stepan Avagyan Memorial in a Sonneborn-Berger tie-break against R Praggnanandhaa.

• Gukesh Dommaraju

At the second spot in our list of the top four chess grandmasters from India who have entered the top ten chess rankings list, we have the Indian chess grandmaster and the reigning World Chess Champion, Gukesh Dommaraju. Gukesh surpassed a FIDE rating of 2750 at the age of seventeen and surpassed 2700 Elo at the age of sixteen.

Additionally, Gukesh earned the title of grandmaster at the age of twelve and established himself as the third-youngest grandmaster in chess history. In 2024, Gukesh established himself as the youngest winner of the Candidates Tournament and successfully challenged Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship, becoming the 18th and youngest undisputed world champion, at the age of 18 years and 195 days.

• Arjun Erigaisi

Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four Indian chess grandmasters who entered the prestigious top 10 chess rankings, we have the 21-year-old chess prodigy Arjun Erigaisi, who earned the title of grandmaster at the age of 14 years, 11 months, 13 days. Often also referred to as the ‘Mad man’ of the board, Arjun Erigaisi achieved his peak rating of 2801, which makes him the fifteenth-highest rated player in history.

In the most recent Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025, Arjun Erigaisi finished 10th, scoring 5.5 points. Owing to his dominant exploits with the board, Arjun Erigaisi was honoured with the prestigious TOISA Chess Player of the Year award in 2021 and the Sportstar Emerging Hero Award in 2023.

• R Praggnanandhaa

Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four chess grandmasters from India who have entered the top ten chess rankings list, we have the most iconic Indian chess grandmaster, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who placed second in the 2023 Chess World Cup and established himself as the clinch the Tata Steel Chess Tournament after Viswanathan Anand.

Additionally, Rameshbabu was also part of the Indian team that clinched the silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games. Furthermore, Rameshbabu also claimed the gold medal in the open section at the 45th Chess Olympiad in 2024. Most recently, in June 2025, Praggnanandhaa scored 6.5/9 and finished second in the Stepan Avagyan Memorial.

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