An award event was held in New Delhi to honor 21 Unstoppable winners. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan released the hymn that embodies an invincible nation. The 21 Unstoppable winners included chess player D Gukesh, who overtook Viswanathan Anand as India’s live FIDE No.1.
D Gukesh, the 17-year-old GM from Chennai, has advanced to the world’s top-10 live rating list and overtaken Vishy Anand’s Elo strength to become India’s No. 1 in chess. The youngest classical chess player, Gukesh, has played almost 350 games…
India’s prancing knight D Gukesh keeps breaking new ground and adding feathers to his cap.
The 17-year-old Chennai GM has entered the world’s top-10 live rating list (Elo 2755.9) and
overcome Vishy Anand (2754) as India’s No. 1 for the first time.
Gukesh defeated home boy Misratdin Iskandarov in the second game of the two-game mini match to advance to the World Cup chess third round in Baku, Azerbaijan, Garry Kasparov’s birthplace.
Indian players have surpassed Anand’s elite live rating before. P Harikrishna overtook Anand’s live rating (2763.3) in 2016 but couldn’t maintain it.
Former seven-time national champion Praveen Thipsay stated, “It’s a fantastic achievement, had not been expected so soon. Remember that Anand was in the top-15 from 1991 to 2016. We must also note that only 12 players exceeded 2600 in 1978. Thus, 2740 2750 is like 1970 or 1978 2600. Today’s rating list will always underrate Fischer, Spassky, Botvinnik, Petrosian, Tal, and Karpov (at his height).
One point for rating inflation. Another question is if Gukesh can win an elite classical tournament with his strength and tournament wisdom. “Unlikely at this stage,” Thipsay added. “He should be in a different class after a year. Champions’ class!”
In 1991, Anand won the Regio Emilia tournament (Category 18) in front of Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Kaprov to enter the elite level. Gukesh has yet to win the National title despite increased competition and computer engines reducing the probability of any player dominating.
Even after months off, chess players keep their ratings.
Anand has played only 21 games since February 2020 and maintained his 2755 rating. This period saw Gukesh play around 350 classical games. Gukesh opened the Mamallapuram chess Olympiad with eight straight wins. He became the youngest classical chess player (17y2m3d as of August 1 when the official rating list came out) to reach Elo 2750 less than two weeks ago, shattering Magnus Carlsen’s record by two months.
When Anand entered the top10, India had no other GM. We have 80+. That includes two top-30 youngest.
Conclusion
D Gukesh has overtaken Vishy Anand’s Elo strength in the world’s top-10 live rating list, becoming India’s No. 1. Indian players have surpassed Anand’s elite live rating before. P Harikrishna overtook Anand’s live rating in 2016, but failed to maintain it. Praveen Thipsay congratulated Anand but emphasized his 1991–2016 top-15 streak. Fischer, Spassky, Botvinnik, Petrosian, Tal, and Karpov remain underrated, like the 1970 or 1978 2600. The strength and tournament wisdom of Gukesh may not be enough to win an elite classical tournament. He became the youngest classical chess player to reach Elo 2750 with eight wins to open the Olympiad. Over 80 GMs are in India, including two of the youngest top-30.
