Indian Chess Stars Shine in Inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards Shortlist

India’s chess prowess is once again in the spotlight, with reigning world champion D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and Women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh leading a formidable lineup of nominees for the inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards.

India’s Chess Stars Shine Bright in FIDE Excellence Awards Shortlist

India’s chess prowess continues to make waves on the global stage, with reigning world champion D. Gukesh, rising star R. Praggnanandhaa, and Women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh leading a formidable contingent nominated for the inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced the nominees on Friday, highlighting India’s significant representation across multiple categories.

The awards ceremony is set to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September, coinciding with the 46th Chess Olympiad. Established earlier this year, the FIDE Excellence Awards aim to honor exceptional achievements over a two-year cycle, with this inaugural edition covering performances from September 2024 to August 2026.

Indians Dominate Major Categories

India’s representation is particularly strong in the Best Chess Player categories. Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and fellow talent Arjun Erigaisi have all been shortlisted for the Best Chess Player (Male) award. They will face off against some of the biggest names in chess, including world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and other elite players like Fabiano Caruana and Alireza Firouzja.

In the women’s category, Divya Deshmukh stands out alongside two-time world rapid champion Koneru Humpy and Women’s Candidates winner R. Vaishali. They are nominated alongside global heavyweights such as Ju Wenjun and Aleksandra Goryachkina.

Both Gukesh and Divya have also been recognized in the Best Breakthrough (Rookie of the Year) category, marking their meteoric rise in the chess world. Gukesh made history as the youngest-ever classical world champion, while Divya’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup has solidified her status as one of the sport’s brightest young talents. Veteran Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna is also in contention for the Best Comeback award.

Recognition for Indian Chess Institutions

India’s influence in the chess world extends beyond individual accolades. The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has been shortlisted for the Best Federation award, competing against prestigious chess bodies from countries like China and Georgia. Additionally, India’s Open and Women’s national teams have earned nominations in the Best Team category, showcasing the country’s sustained success in international competitions.

The ChessBase India Foundation, instrumental in popularizing chess and nurturing talent across the nation, has also been recognized among the nominees for the Best Chess Initiative award. Furthermore, Jennitha Anto represents India in the Best Chess Player with a Disability category.

FIDE emphasized that all nominees were selected by the FIDE Excellence Awards Jury, following a public nomination process conducted throughout June. The selection process will now advance to the awards selection panel, which will review the shortlisted nominees and vote to determine the winners across all 11 categories before the ceremony in September.

Full FIDE Excellence Awards Shortlists

Best Chess Player (Male):
Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Fabiano Caruana, Magnus Carlsen, Arjun Erigaisi, Alireza Firouzja, Anish Giri, Gukesh Dommaraju, Vincent Keymer, R Praggnanandhaa, Javokhir Sindarov

Best Chess Player (Female):
Bibisara Assaubayeva, Divya Deshmukh, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Koneru Humpy, Lei Tingjie, Anna Muzychuk, Tan Zhongyi, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Ju Wenjun, Zhu Jiner

Best Federation:
Chinese Chess Association, Colombian Chess Federation, Georgian Chess Federation, All India Chess Federation, Italian Chess Federation, Kazakhstan Chess Federation, Chess Kenya, Chess Federation of Serbia, Turkish Chess Federation, Uzbekistan Chess Federation

Best Team:
India (Open and Women’s National Teams), China (Open and Women’s National Teams), and others

Best Breakthrough (Rookie of the Year):
Divya Deshmukh, Gukesh Dommaraju, and others

Best Comeback:
Pentala Harikrishna, Levon Aronian, and others

Best Chess Player with a Disability:
Jennitha Anto, and others

As the chess community eagerly anticipates the awards ceremony, India’s representation in the FIDE Excellence Awards underscores the nation’s growing influence in the world of chess, promising an exciting future for the sport.