Premium

Tata Steel Chess: Gukesh is new world no 3 (but only in live ratings) after Praggnanandhaa takes down Fabiano Caruana

Over the course of 11 games in the Tata Steel chess tournament, world champion Gukesh's rating has gone up by 16 points. He is currently rated at 2793, just one point off his career best rating of 2794. He's also the India no 1.

Gukesh taking on Wei Yi in Round 11 of the Tata Steel chess tournament at Wijk aan Zee. (PHOTO: Jurriaan Hoefsmit via Tata Steel chess)

Gukesh is now the world no 3 in the FIDE live ratings charts after his draw against China’s Wei Yi in the 11th round of the Tata Steel chess tournament coupled with Praggnanandhaa’s defeat of Fabiano Caruana.

It must be noted that FIDE’s current ratings list for February still mentions Gukesh as World No 5 with rating of 2777 that he had before Tata Steel event. Since the event is currently ongoing, ratings gains for the event at Wijk aan Zee have not been considered. This also means that the official monthly ratings list published by FIDE shows Arjun Erigaisi as World No 4 with a rating of 2801. At the Tata Steel chess event, Erigaisi has lost 33 points.

Over the course of the past 11 games in the Tata Steel chess tournament, world champion Gukesh’s rating has gone up by 16 rating points. He is currently rated at 2793 (in real-time live ratings), just one point off his career best rating of 2794 which he achieved in October 2024.

Story continues below this ad

With just two rounds remaining in the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Gukesh is currently leading the masters standings with Praggnanandhaa and Nodirbek Abdusattarov half a point behind in joint second spot.

Gukesh is playing in his first event after becoming the youngest world champion in history last month where he defeated Ding Liren in Singapore.

With India’s top-ranked player Arjun Erigaisi woefully out of sorts at the Tata Steel event and dropping 33 points to slide down to sixth spot, Gukesh also became the India no 1 at the Wijk aan Zee tournament.

For Gukesh, the only real challenge in his path to winning the event was Chinese GM Wei Yi, who he faced in Round 11 on Friday. The 18-year-old from Chennai opted for a sturdy Italian Opening against Wei Yi, which saw both players stay level most of the evening. Eventually, the game ended as a draw after an equal rook and pawn endgame.

INTERACTIVE: How Gukesh drew with Wei Yi

Gukesh D [White] vs Wei Yi

Story continues below this ad

Gukesh taking on Wei Yi in Round 11 of the Tata Steel chess tournament at Wijk aan Zee. (PHOTO: Jurriaan Hoefsmit via Tata Steel chess)

All the moves from Gukesh vs Wei Yi: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 4… Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 f6 9. d4 Bg4 10. Nb3 Kh8 11. h3 Bh5 12. c3 exd4 13. Nbxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nb6 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. Rxe7 Nxc4 18. Bf4 Nxb2 19. Rb1 Rd1+ 20. Rxd1 Nxd1 21. Rxc7 b6 22. Kf1 Re8 23. Bd2 h5 24. Rxa7 Rd8 25. Be1 Nb2 26. Rb7 Nc4 27. Rc7 Ne5 28. Ke2 Re8 29. Bd2 Nc4+ 30. Be3 Nxe3