June 21, 2025: In a major shake-up at the top of Indian chess, R Praggnanandhaa has leapfrogged reigning world champion D Gukesh in the live FIDE rankings, becoming the new India No. 2. As of Saturday, Praggnanandhaa holds a live rating of 2777.2, narrowly edging past Gukesh’s 2776.6.
The new standings reflect an intense rivalry within Indian chess, with Arjun Erigaisi continuing to lead the national charts at 2780.7, having overtaken both Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh earlier this month. Gukesh, who made history as the youngest world champion in 2024, now finds himself at No. 3 in the country.
Strong Start at UzChess Cup Masters
Praggnanandhaa’s latest rise is powered by a strong showing at the UzChess Cup Masters in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. After a draw in Round 1, he secured a decisive victory in Round 2 against local talent Shamsiddin Vokhidov, playing with the white pieces. He currently shares the tournament lead with 1.5 points, tied with Erigaisi and other contenders.
Rivalry and Redemption
The shift in rankings reignites the intense competitive arc between Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh. In January at the TATA Steel Masters in Wijk aan Zee, Praggnanandhaa defeated Gukesh in a dramatic tiebreaker to clinch the title.
“It was full of tension,” Pragg said, recalling the match. “The tiebreaker was exciting. It was tiring as well — I had played six-and-a-half hours of classical chess, followed by blitz playoffs after just 30 minutes of rest. These were risky games with only 10 seconds per move.”
Praggnanandhaa credited his recent form to focused training with coach R. B. Ramesh, saying, “In the second half of 2024, I was not happy with the quality of my games. I trained a lot… Winning the TATA Steel title was important for my confidence.”
Despite his rise, Pragg remains focused and grounded. “I am not thinking of the FIDE Candidates yet — it’s far away. But 2025 looks exciting.”
The Updated Live FIDE India Rankings (as of June 21, 2025):
- Arjun Erigaisi – 2780.7
- R Praggnanandhaa – 2777.2
- D Gukesh – 2776.6