India’s Chess Triumphs in 2024: A Year of Unprecedented Achievements

New Delhi, December 31: Indian chess has had an extraordinary year in 2024, marking a period of monumental achievements that have solidified the country’s position as a global chess powerhouse. From historic world titles to a groundbreaking double at the Chess Olympiad, India has reached new heights in the sport, thanks to the efforts of its talented grandmasters.

India’s chess landscape continues to shine brightly with the emergence of stars like R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujarathi, D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agrawal. These young players, full of promise, represent a generation poised to bring further glory to Indian chess.

One of the standout moments of the year came when D Gukesh etched his name in history. At the FIDE World Championship in Singapore earlier this month, Gukesh, only 18 years old, defeated China’s Ding Liren in a thrilling 14th game to claim the title. With the match tied at 6.5-6.5, Gukesh delivered a remarkable performance to win 7.5-6.5, making him the youngest world chess champion in history. This victory also made him the second Indian player, after Vishwanathan Anand, to hold the prestigious title.

In April, Gukesh made headlines again by winning the FIDE Candidates Tournament, earning the right to challenge Ding Liren for the world title. His victory in this tournament set the stage for his eventual triumph at the World Chess Championship.

The Indian Chess Olympiad team made history in September at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, as both the men’s and women’s teams claimed gold medals for the first time in the history of the event. The men’s team, featuring Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa R, and Arjun Erigaisi, triumphed over Slovenia in the final round, finishing with a record-breaking 21 points. On the women’s side, the team, led by Harika Dronavalli and Divya Deshmukh, alongside Vantika Agrawal and Tania Sachdev, defeated Azerbaijan to clinch the gold.

Gukesh, Arjun, Divya, and Vantika also earned individual gold medals for their outstanding performances on their respective boards.

In another remarkable achievement, Humpy Koneru triumphed at the FIDE Women’s World Rapid Championship held in New York. She defeated Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar in the final round to secure her second world rapid title. Humpy’s win, which concluded with a score of 8.5/11, not only brought her the title but also placed her as the second player in history, after China’s Ju Wenjun, to win multiple women’s world rapid titles.

Humpy has been a consistent force in the world of chess, having finished in the top three at this event multiple times, including her second-place finish in 2023. Her 2019 victory at the World Rapid Championship was another significant milestone in her career.

Finally, in October, 21-year-old Arjun Erigaisi achieved a milestone by surpassing the 2800 Elo rating mark in live chess ratings. Erigaisi became the youngest Indian player to reach this impressive threshold, joining the ranks of Viswanathan Anand as only the second Indian to achieve such a feat.

2024 has truly been a groundbreaking year for Indian chess, with the country’s grandmasters continuing to shine on the global stage. With such a promising generation of players, India’s future in chess looks brighter than ever.