Indian Chess Achievements in 2024: A Year of Resurgence and Triumph

Indian Chess Achieves New Heights in 2024: A Year of Resurgence and Triumph

In a historic moment for Indian chess, 18-year-old D Gukesh emerged as the youngest ever world champion in the long history of the game. His victory over Ding Liren of China in the World Chess Championship in Singapore marked a bold signature on India’s rise as a true global chess superpower in the post Viswanathan Anand era.

The year 2024 was a story of resurgence in Indian chess, crafted by Anand himself. The fearless and ambitious teenagers, known as “Vishy’s children” by Garry Kasparov, now have a role model to emulate in Gukesh, who hails from Chennai.

Gukesh’s journey to the world championship title began during the FIDE Candidates tournament in April, where he emerged as the youngest ever winner of the tournament, setting up a title clash with defending champion Liren.

The Indian chess scene also saw success at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where India walked away with six gold medals in team and individual categories. Gukesh, along with other talented players like Arjun Erigaisi, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agarwal, showcased India’s prowess on the global stage.

The Rameshbabu household in Chennai made headlines with two Grandmasters, R Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali, becoming the first siblings to play in the Candidates tournament and achieve the GM norm.

Praggnanandhaa achieved a milestone by defeating world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the Classical version during the Norway Chess tournament, while Erigaisi became the second Indian after Anand to cross the 2800 Elo rating points.

With a deep talent pool that includes players like Vidit Gujrathi, P Harikrishna, D Harika, and Tanya Sachdev, India’s chess future looks bright. The increasing number of young players taking up the game is seen as the nation’s real strength in the chess world.

As India gears up for 2025, ranked fourth in the FIDE team rankings with 64 Grandmasters, the excitement and anticipation for upcoming tournaments like the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour and FIDE Women’s World Cup are palpable. The chess world is eagerly awaiting to see more young Indian talents shine on the global stage, solidifying India’s position as a powerhouse in the world of chess.