Chess in India explained

Chess has risen in popularity in India in the last few decades primarily due to chess Grandmaster and former 5-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand.

It is believed that chess originated from Chaturanga of ancient India. The All India Chess Federation is the governing body for chess in India.

Indian Chess in Numbers

Records / Firsts

World Championships

Highest rated players

The highest ranked Indian players are:

World Top Lists

As of November 2021, the following is the number of Indian chess players in various segments:

GM and WGM Titles

India has produced:

Medals won by Indian Chess Team

Competition GoldSilverBronzeTotal
World Team Championship0112
Olympiad1034
Asian Games2226
Asian Team Championship311721
Total 6 12 13 31

Player statistics

Men

The top 10 Indian grandmasters as of January 2024 are listed below. [2] India has 9 players in top 100 FIDE Open rating list in 2023.

Viswanathan Anand is currently No. 9 in the FIDE World Rankings and the former World Champion. Viswanathan "Vishy" Anand (born 11 December 1969) is an Indian chess grandmaster and former world chess champion. He became the first grandmaster from India in 1988, and is one of the few players to have surpassed an Elo rating of 2800, a feat he first achieved in 2006.

Player Birth year Rating StateGM Title World rank
1 1969 2748 Tamil Nadu1988 11
22006 2725 Tamil Nadu2019 25
3 1994 2742 Maharashtra2013 14
4 1986 2704 Andhra Pradesh2001 33
5 Praggnanandhaa R2005 2743 Tamil Nadu2018 13
6 2003 2738 Telangana2018 17
7 2004 2693 Kerala2018 43
8 S. L. Narayanan1998 2694 Kerala2015 42
9 Chithambaram Arvindh VR1999 2662 Tamil Nadu201572
10Aryan Chopra20012630NCT of Delhi2017119

Women

The top 10 women Indian chess players are listed below as of November 2013.[3]

Blind players

The top blind Indian chess players are listed below as of December 2021.[4]

Player ELO Rating Birth year State Notes
1 2124 1994 Bronze medal, World Junior chess Championship for the blind, Serbia, 2013
2 2113 1992 6-time winner at National A championships (Blind) from 2012 to 2019.
3 1998President International Braille Chess Association
4 1982
5 1909
6 1861 1977
7 1860 1966
8 1858 2nd place, IBCA Asian Chess Championship for the Visually Challenged 2017
9 1783
10 1733 1972 Founder, Nalanda Chess Academy, Shivamogga. First coach of GM Stany G.A.

List of National Sports award recipients in Chess, showing the year, award, and gender

YearRecipientAwardGender
1991–1992Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Male
1961Arjuna Award Male
1980–1981Arjuna Award Female
1983Arjuna Award Male
1984Arjuna Award Male
1985Arjuna Award Male
1987Arjuna Award Male
1987Arjuna Award Female
1990Arjuna Award Female
2000Arjuna Award Female
2002Arjuna Award Male
2003Arjuna Award Female
2005Arjuna Award Male
2006Arjuna Award Male
2007Arjuna Award Female
2009Arjuna Award Female
2010Arjuna Award Male
2013Arjuna Award Male
2022Arjuna Award Female
2022Arjuna Award Male
2023Arjuna Award Female
2021Dhyan Chand Award Male
2006Dronacharya Award Male
2023Dronacharya Award Male

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Nov 9, 2021 . Pranav becomes India's 75nd Grand Master . The Times of India . 2021-12-01.
  2. Web site: Federations Ranking: India . 7 August 2023 . ratings.fide.com . World Chess Federation (FIDE).
  3. Web site: Federations Ranking: India, Women. World Chess Federation (FIDE). November 24, 2013.
  4. Web site: AICFB. November 24, 2013.