In keeping with the present reside Elo rankings, D Gukesh is the present India No. 1 and has lived as much as his billing as the brand new World Chess Champion. The 18-year-old defeated Ding Liren on the World Chess Championship in Singapore final yr. The end result additionally noticed him develop into the youngest-ever world champion in historical past.
D Gukesh lately misplaced to Magnus Carlsen on the Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam occasion.(AP)
After the historic victory, Gukesh skipped 2024’s year-ending World Fast and Blitz Championships in New York, as he was busy with felicitation ceremonies and likewise exhausted by his preparations for the World C’ship towards Liren. He returned in motion in 2025, collaborating on the Tata Masters in Wijk aan Zee in January. For many a part of the event, he was on prime of the standings and regarded set to complete his marketing campaign as champion. However then a defeat to Arjun Erigaisi within the last spherical, noticed the Gukesh having to face R Praggnanandhaa in a title-deciding tiebreaker.
Praggnanandhaa reigned supreme as he defeated Gukesh to clinch the title. Regardless of his defeat, Gukesh’s performances throughout the event noticed him topple Erigaisi from the India No. 1 place, and now he’s at the moment World No. 3 with an Elo score of 2787.2. Magnus Carlsen is on prime with a 2833 score, adopted by American GM Hikaru Nakamura (2802).
Gukesh lately participated on the Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, the place he completed in eighth place. His winless run additionally noticed him lose to Magnus Carlsen, who didn’t participate within the earlier FIDE World C’ship cycle, and isn’t that includes within the present one too.
Carlsen is the present World No. 1 and his peak score of 2882 is the very best in historical past. Carlsen is a five-time World Chess Champion, five-time World Fast winner, and reigning (shared with Ian Nepomniachtchi) World Blitz title holder. He additionally has the document for the longest unbeaten streak on the elite stage in classical chess at 125 video games. The Norwegian declined to defend his World Chess Championship title in 2023, resulting from a scarcity of motivation.
‘I do think it is possible’: D Gukesh
Talking on the sidelines of Weissenhaus Freestyle Grand Slam, Gukesh was requested if he may ever overtake Carlsen and develop into the highest-ever rated participant in chess historical past. To everybody’s shock, the teenager confidently responded, “I do think it is possible.”
“But I also understand that it is very challenging, especially since the ratings have in general, compared to a few years back, have been quite low at the top. So maybe in a few more years, it is possible but right now it in the near future, that it’s not that likely,” he added.
Gukesh’s peak FIDE Elo score is 2794, which he achieved final yr in October. He’s anticipated to take part on the upcoming Paris Freestyle Grand Slam occasion, alongwith Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa. Norway Chess 2025 will even see a showdown between Gukesh and Carlsen, and the Indian GM might be seeking to stake his declare as one of many biggest in historical past.