Indian Chess Players Who Changed the Game

No story of Indian chess can begin without “Vishy” Anand. In 1988, at just 18 years old, Anand became India’s first grandmaster. His lightning-fast play earned him the nickname “The Lightning Kid”, and his calm demeanor later defined him as one of the most respected players in chess history. Anand’s five World Championship titles and status as the first Asian to cross the 2800 rating barrier set the stage for India’s chess revolution. Even at 55, he remains the guiding light for the new generation, showing that genius ages like fine wine.

Few names capture the imagination of young fans like Praggnanandhaa. At just 12 years and 10 months, he became one of the youngest grandmasters in history. But his real global breakout came in 2022, when he defeated then World Champion Magnus Carlsen—a feat that made headlines across the world. Today, at 19, “Pragg” is among the top players in the world, already carrying the hopes of millions of Indian fans who believe he could be the country’s next world champion.

If Praggnanandhaa is a star, Gukesh is nothing short of a comet. He became India’s youngest ever grandmaster at 12 years and 7 months in 2019, and in 2024, he stunned the chess world by winning the World Chess Championship at just 18 years old. His fearless attacking style and refusal to bow to pressure have made him one of the most exciting players of his generation. At 19, Gukesh is not just a rising star he is already a reigning champion.

In recent years, Arjun Erigaisi has emerged as India’s most consistent performer. He became a grandmaster at 14 and has since climbed the rating ladder with astonishing speed. By 2024, he had crossed the hallowed 2800 Elo mark, becoming India’s top rated player and the world number three. At just 21, Arjun has combined youthful energy with disciplined precision, proving himself a serious contender in the race for future world titles.

At 14, Nihal Sarin joined the Indian grandmaster club, and ever since, he has built a reputation as one of the coolest and calmest young talents on the circuit. From winning youth world titles to helping India clinch the FIDE Online Olympiad gold in 2020, Nihal has grown steadily into one of India’s most reliable stars. Now 21, his mature style of play and ability to thrive under pressure signal a long and bright future at the top.

When Pentala Harikrishna became a grandmaster in 2001 at just 15, he was hailed as Anand’s natural successor. Born in Andhra Pradesh, Harikrishna’s rise was marked by patience, grit, and steady progress. He went on to win the World Junior Championship in 2004 and the Asian Championship in 2011, eventually breaking into the world’s top 10. Today, at 39, he continues to be a dependable presence for India in international team events, a testament to consistency in a sport that rewards resilience as much as brilliance

The newest name rewriting history is Nagpur’s Divya Deshmukh. In 2025, at only 19 years old, she won the FIDE Women’s World Cup, defeating some of the strongest names in women’s chess including her childhood idol Koneru Humpy. That victory instantly earned her the grandmaster title, making her only the fourth Indian woman to achieve it. Divya’s success is not just personal it signals a new era for women’s chess in India, inspiring young girls to dream big in a game once seen as male-dominated.

Aravindh Chidambaram, became a Grandmaster in 2015 at the age of 16. Born in Tamil Nadu in 1999, he first made waves by winning the World U-14 Championship and later went on to become a two-time Indian National Champion in 2018 and 2019, establishing himself as one of India’s strongest players in open tournaments.