September proved to be a landmark month for Indian chess, with several young talents making major strides on the global stage. Arjun Erigaisi continued his ascent, moving up to world number four after overtaking Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, who slipped 14 points at the FIDE Grand Swiss.
Erigaisi’s consistent performances reinforce India’s growing depth in elite chess.
Nihal Sarin officially joined the 2700 club, reaching exactly 2700, while Praggnanandhaa’s compatriot, Vaishali Rameshbabu, rebounded from a 24-point loss in August by gaining 21 points, winning the Women’s Grand Swiss and securing a spot in the Women’s Candidates for the second consecutive year.
Divya Deshmukh also impressed, approaching 2500 after competing in the Open Grand Swiss and defeating grandmasters.
Among junior players, Pranav Venkatesh made headlines by gaining 45 rating points, propelled by victories in the Grand Swiss and Fujairah Global Superstars, while American Grandmaster Abhimanyu Mishra maintained an unbeaten streak of 67 games, gaining 41 points and entering the world top 100.
The 11-year-old Faustino Oro matched Pranav’s gain, entering the top 50 after dominating the Legends & Prodigies event in Madrid. Ashwath Kaushik, aged 10, added 81 points to reach 2345, becoming the fourth-youngest 2300+ player ever.
These performances highlight India’s emergence as a powerhouse in both senior and junior chess. While veterans like Gukesh Dommaraju faced challenges, the younger generation, including Sarin, Erigaisi, Pranav, and Faustino, is rapidly closing the gap with global elites.
With multiple players now competing consistently at 2600+ levels, and women like Vaishali and Divya breaking new ground internationally, India’s chess future looks brighter than ever.
The September rating updates reflect not just individual brilliance but also the growing ecosystem supporting chess talent across the country, from prodigies barely in double digits to rising stars ready for the world stage.
Erigaisi’s consistent performances reinforce India’s growing depth in elite chess.
Nihal Sarin officially joined the 2700 club, reaching exactly 2700, while Praggnanandhaa’s compatriot, Vaishali Rameshbabu, rebounded from a 24-point loss in August by gaining 21 points, winning the Women’s Grand Swiss and securing a spot in the Women’s Candidates for the second consecutive year.
Divya Deshmukh also impressed, approaching 2500 after competing in the Open Grand Swiss and defeating grandmasters.
Among junior players, Pranav Venkatesh made headlines by gaining 45 rating points, propelled by victories in the Grand Swiss and Fujairah Global Superstars, while American Grandmaster Abhimanyu Mishra maintained an unbeaten streak of 67 games, gaining 41 points and entering the world top 100.
The 11-year-old Faustino Oro matched Pranav’s gain, entering the top 50 after dominating the Legends & Prodigies event in Madrid. Ashwath Kaushik, aged 10, added 81 points to reach 2345, becoming the fourth-youngest 2300+ player ever.
These performances highlight India’s emergence as a powerhouse in both senior and junior chess. While veterans like Gukesh Dommaraju faced challenges, the younger generation, including Sarin, Erigaisi, Pranav, and Faustino, is rapidly closing the gap with global elites.
With multiple players now competing consistently at 2600+ levels, and women like Vaishali and Divya breaking new ground internationally, India’s chess future looks brighter than ever.
The September rating updates reflect not just individual brilliance but also the growing ecosystem supporting chess talent across the country, from prodigies barely in double digits to rising stars ready for the world stage.
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