R Praggnanandhaa Overthrows World Champion D Gukesh In Live Chess Rankings; Enters Top 5

Last Updated:June 21, 2025, 12:33 IST

Praggnanandhaa is now fifth in the live FIDE Rankings with a rating of 2777.2, surpassing Gukesh. Arjun Erigaisi remains India's No.1. Praggnanandhaa aims for the 2026 Candidates.

Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh at the Superbet Classic (X)

It seems as if Gukesh Dommaraju has stiff competition brewing for his throne, and it is none other than his Indian compatriot R Praggnanandhaa, who is aiming to dethrone the reigning World Champion.

Pragg’s steady ascent to the upper echelons of the chess world has now been exemplified with the young Indian overtaking the reigning champion Gukesh in the live FIDE Rankings.

As per 2700chess.com, Praggnanandhaa currently stands fifth overall in the world with a rating of 2777.2, toppling over Gukesh, who stands at sixth with a rating of 2776.6, as of June 20.

Yet, this still doesn’t make Pragg India’s No.1, as that honour still is bestowed upon Arjun Erigaisi, who stands tall at fourth place in the world with a rating of 2780.7.

The 18-year-old from Chennai has emerged as one of India’s brightest stars, steadily carving his place among the elite while carrying the weight of a chess revolution unfolding back home.

Earlier this year, Praggnanandhaa joined an exclusive club, becoming only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the prestigious Tata Steel Chess tournament.

The Indian GM has only one goal in his mind for the upcoming year: secure qualification for the 2026 Candidates to have a shot at competing for the Championship.

“This year is all about qualifying for the Candidates Tournament next year," Praggnandhaa said in an exclusive interaction with News18 Sports.

And he sure is well on his way, having put up solid performances so far in the UzChess Cup Masters in Tashkent, hosted by the Uzbekistan Chess Federation, where Praggnanandhaa is currently in action.

Praggnanandhaa drew in the first round and then got his first win in Round 2, beating Uzbek Shamsiddin Vokhidov with the white pieces. He leads the tournament leaderboard with 1.5 points, tied with Erigaisi and others.

The shift in rankings reignites the intense competitive arc between Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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News sports R Praggnanandhaa Overthrows World Champion D Gukesh In Live Chess Rankings; Enters Top 5