Mixed Results for Indian Chess in March 2026 FIDE Rating List: Gukesh and Humpy Shine Amidst Setbacks
Indian Chess Faces Mixed Fortunes in March 2026 FIDE Rating List
March 2, 2026 – The latest FIDE Rating List has delivered a blend of triumph and tribulation for Indian chess enthusiasts. As of March 2026, only two Indian players have secured spots in the world’s top 10 for classical chess: D Gukesh in the Open category and Koneru Humpy in the Women’s category.
D Gukesh, the reigning world champion, currently holds the World No. 10 position. However, his recent performance at the Tata Steel Masters saw him lose nearly six rating points, resulting in a slip from his previous rank. Meanwhile, fellow Indian chess prodigy Arjun Erigaisi faced a more significant setback, plummeting from World No. 5 to No. 11 after a staggering loss of 30 rating points in the same tournament. R Praggnanandhaa also experienced a decline, dropping from No. 8 to No. 13 after losing 17 points.
Despite these challenges in classical chess, Arjun remains India’s sole representative in the world top 10 for Rapid and Blitz formats. Overall, India boasts 12 players in the world’s top 100 for classical chess, including Gukesh (10), Arjun (11), and Praggnanandhaa (13). Other notable players include Nihal Sarin (24), Vidit Gujrathi (30), and Pentala Harikrishna (43). Interestingly, Nihal Sarin managed to climb two spots to No. 24 despite not participating in any tournaments in February.
In the women’s category, India continues to shine with seven players in the world top 100. Koneru Humpy stands tall at World No. 5, having climbed one spot without competing in any classical events last month. Divya Deshmukh remains steady at No. 12, while R Vaishali and Harika Dronavalli have slipped to No. 18 and No. 20, respectively, due to global rating fluctuations.
On the federation front, India maintains its position as the second-best chess nation globally based on average ratings. In the Open category, India trails the United States by 33 Elo points, while in the Women’s category, it is 90 points behind the leading nation. However, India has dropped one place in the Mixed category, now sitting behind China, with a deficit of 24 points.
While the latest ratings reflect a challenging landscape for Indian chess, the nation’s rich talent pool ensures it remains a formidable force on the global stage. As players regroup and strategize for upcoming tournaments, the chess community eagerly anticipates how these shifts will influence future rankings and performances.