D Gukesh and Koneru Humpy: India’s Sole Representatives in FIDE Top 10 as Rankings Shift in March 2026
D Gukesh and Koneru Humpy Stand Tall as India’s Lone Representatives in FIDE Top 10
Last Updated: March 04, 2026, 10:29 IST
In a striking reflection of the current chess landscape, D Gukesh and Koneru Humpy have emerged as the only Indian players in the top 10 of the latest FIDE ratings, highlighting a significant gap between Indian talents and their international counterparts.
World champion D Gukesh, currently ranked No. 10, continues to solidify his position among the elite, while veteran player Koneru Humpy holds the No. 5 spot in women’s classical chess. Their achievements underscore India’s growing prominence in the global chess arena, even as other Indian players face challenges in maintaining their rankings.
Arjun Erigaisi, once a promising contender at No. 5, has seen a decline, slipping to No. 11 following his performance at the Tata Steel Masters. Despite this setback in classical rankings, Erigaisi remains India’s sole representative in the Rapid and Blitz formats, showcasing his versatility.
R Praggnanandhaa also experienced a drop, moving from No. 8 to No. 13 after the Tata Steel Masters. Meanwhile, Humpy continues to shine as India’s top female player, with Divya Deshmukh holding steady at No. 12 despite not participating in any classical events in February. However, R Vaishali and Harika Dronavalli both fell two spots to No. 18 and No. 20, respectively.
Overall, India boasts an impressive 12 players in the Open top 100 and seven in the Women’s top 100, reflecting the nation’s robust chess talent. The March FIDE rating list, which incorporates results from major events including the Tata Steel Masters and various international tournaments, paints a vivid picture of India’s chess standing.
The current top 10 rankings for Indian players are as follows:
- D Gukesh – No. 10
- Arjun Erigaisi – No. 11
- R Praggnanandhaa – No. 13
- Nihal Sarin – No. 24
- Vidit Gujrathi – No. 30
- Aravindh Chithambaram – No. 34
- Pentala Harikrishna – No. 43
- Murali Karthikeyan – No. 70
- Raunak Sadhwani – No. 77
- Pranav V – No. 79
- Pranesh M – No. 89
- Aryan Chopra – No. 92
On the women’s side, four Indian players remain in the world top 20: Humpy (No. 5), Deshmukh (No. 12), Vaishali (No. 18), and Dronavalli (No. 20). Humpy’s ascent by one spot, coupled with Deshmukh’s consistency, offers a glimmer of hope for Indian chess enthusiasts, even as Vaishali and Dronavalli face challenges.
As the chess community looks ahead, the performances of Gukesh and Humpy will be pivotal in shaping India’s future in the sport, with hopes high for a resurgence among the next generation of players.