India has given the world many chess stars. Legends like Viswanathan Anand, Koneru Humpy, and Harika Dronavalli inspired millions. But today, a new generation is carrying the torch. These young boys and girls are making India proud on the world stage. Let’s look at the top young talents who are shaping the future of Indian chess.
1. R. Praggnanandhaa (Born 2005)
- Grandmaster at: 12 years, 10 months 13 Days
- Current Rating (August 2025): 2779
- Peak Rating: 2779, World No. 4 (2025)
Praggnanandhaa is one of the brightest young stars of world chess. He became the youngest International Master in history at just 10 years and 10 months. At 12 years and 10 months, he achieved the Grandmaster title. He has won the World U8, U10, and U18 titles. In 2023, he reached the World Cup final, and in 2025, he lifted the Tata Steel Masters trophy.
The Inspiring Story of R. Praggnanandhaa
2. Gukesh Dommaraju (Born 2006)
- Grandmaster at: 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days
- Current Rating (August 2025): 2777
- Peak Rating: 2794 (October 2024)
Gukesh is already a world champion. He became a Grandmaster at 12 years and 7 months, making him one of the youngest in history. In 2024, he stunned the world by winning the Candidates Tournament and later defeating Ding Liren to become the youngest ever World Champion. By 2025, his rating crossed 2770, showing he belongs among the very best.
The Chess Journey of Gukesh Dommaraju
3. Arjun Erigaisi (Born 2003)
- Grandmaster at: 14 years, 11 months, and 13 days
- Current Rating (August 2025): 2776
- Peak Rating: 2801 (December 2024)
Arjun Erigaisi is one of India’s brightest chess prodigies. He became a Grandmaster at 14 years and 11 months, showing his early strength on the board. In September 2024, he climbed to become India’s top-rated player, and by December 2024, he achieved his peak rating of 2801. This made him the second Indian ever to cross 2800, after Viswanathan Anand, and the 15th-highest rated player in chess history. Known for his bold and unpredictable style, Arjun has earned a reputation as a true fighter who never backs down from complications.
4. Nihal Sarin (Born 2004)
- Grandmaster at: 14 years, 1 month, and 1 day
- Current Rating (August 2025): 2692
- Peak Rating: 2698 (June 2025)
Nihal Sarin is an Indian chess prodigy who became a Grandmaster in 2018. At just 14 years old, he crossed the 2600 Elo mark, making him the third youngest player in history to achieve that milestone. Nihal started strong as a junior, winning the World U10 Championship in 2014 and finishing runner-up in the World U12 Championship in 2015.
He was also a key member of the Indian team that won gold in the FIDE Online Olympiad 2020. In the same year, he became the U18 World Youth Champion in rapid chess. Calm under pressure and especially strong in faster formats, Nihal is one of India’s most consistent young players, with a rating close to 2700.
5. Leon Luke Mendonca (Born 2006)
- Grandmaster at: 14 years, 9 months, and 17 days
- Current Rating (August 2025): 2606
- Peak Rating: 2643 (March 2025)
Leon Mendonca is a Grandmaster from Goa and one of the brightest young talents in Indian chess. He became an International Master in 2019 at the age of 12 years and 11 months. His rise to the GM title was unusual — during the COVID lockdown in 2020, Leon was stuck in Eastern Europe. Instead of slowing down, he turned the challenge into opportunity, earning his first GM norm in Hungary in October 2020. Within just three weeks, he added a second in Budapest, and by December 2020, he had completed his final norm at the Vergani Cup in Italy.
At 14 years and 9 months, Leon officially became India’s 67th Grandmaster in January 2021, and only the second GM from Goa after Anurag Mhamal. His career kept progressing, and in January 2024 he won the Tata Steel Challengers, earning a spot in the prestigious Masters event of 2025.
6. Pranesh M (Born 2006)
- Current Rating (August 2025): 2589
- Peak Rating: 2592 (July 2025)
Pranesh M is part of India’s new generation of chess prodigies and is coached by R.B. Ramesh, one of the country’s most respected trainers. He began turning heads when he earned his first GM norm at the Delhi GM Open 2020, scoring impressive wins against players like Stanislav Bogdanovich and Adam Tukhaev, and holding draws against strong opponents including Diptayan Ghosh and Nodirbek Yakubboev.
In October 2022, he produced a big upset by defeating Aravindh Chithambaram in the Asian Continental Championship. His breakthrough moment came in January 2023, when he won the Rilton Cup in Stockholm. This victory made him India’s 79th Grandmaster and the first winner of the 2023 FIDE Circuit event.
The Chess Journey of Pranesh M
7. Vaishali Rameshbabu (Born 2001)
- Current Rating (August 2025): 2476
- Peak Rating: 2506 (August 2024)
Vaishali Rameshbabu is one of India’s leading women chess players and the elder sister of GM R. Praggnanandhaa. She became a Grandmaster in 2024, adding her name to India’s growing list of top achievers.
Her biggest success came in 2023, when she won the Women’s Grand Swiss, earning qualification for the Women’s Candidates 2024. In the following year, she added another big result by taking the bronze medal at the Women’s World Blitz Championship 2024. Vaishali has steadily climbed the world rankings and continues to be a strong presence in both classical and rapid formats.
8. Divya Deshmukh (Born 2005)
- Current Rating (August 2025): 2478
- Peak Rating: 2478 (August 2025)
Divya Deshmukh is one of the brightest young stars in Indian women’s chess. She is a Grandmaster-elect and has already made her mark in world events. Divya has been a key part of India’s Olympiad teams, winning two gold medals and one bronze medal at the Women’s Chess Olympiad.
She achieved her biggest triumph by winning the Women’s Chess World Cup 2025, which also earned her a spot in the Women’s Candidates 2026. Earlier in her career, she collected titles at the Asian Championship, the World Junior Championship, and the World Youth Championship. With her rapid rise, Divya is seen as a future leader of Indian women’s chess.
How Divya Deshmukh Became World Champion?
9. Bharath Subramaniyam H (Born 2007)
- Grandmaster at: 14 years, 2 months, and 23 days
- Current Rating (August 2025): 2562
- Peak Rating: 2567 (January 2025)
Bharath Subramaniyam started learning chess from his father at the age of five and later trained at Chess Gurukul in Chennai under GM R.B. Ramesh. In 2020, he was chosen for a special camp run by former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik and GM Boris Gelfand, an experience that helped sharpen his skills. He now trains with GM Shyam Sundar.
Bharath became an International Master in 2019 at just 11 years and 8 months. In January 2022, he completed his GM title at the Vergani Cup in Italy, scoring 7.5/9 and crossing 2500 Elo. This made him India’s 73rd Grandmaster at the age of 14.
10. Savitha Shri B (Born 2007)
- Current Rating (August 2025): 2326
- Peak Rating: 2435 (September 2022)
Savitha Shri Baskar is one of India’s fastest-rising young women players. She became a Woman Grandmaster in 2023 and achieved the International Master title in 2025, showing her steady climb in strength.
At just 15, she won a bronze medal at the Women’s World Rapid Championship 2022, marking her arrival on the international stage. She has also been part of India’s team successes — winning bronze at the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad 2021 and a silver medal in the women’s team event at the 2022 Asian Games. With her rapid progress, Savitha is seen as one of the brightest future hopes in Indian chess.
Conclusion
From Anand’s era to the new generation, Indian chess has only grown stronger. Rising stars like Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Divya, and Vaishali are not only winning medals but also inspiring young kids to dream big. Parents looking to nurture this interest are turning to online chess classes and even searching the best chess classes in India to give their children the right start. With such a foundation, the future of Indian chess looks brighter than ever.
