D Gukesh has continued his rapid ascent in the world of chess by overtaking Arjun Erigaisi to become the highest-ranked Indian chess player in the latest FIDE rankings. The 18-year-old achieved this milestone after winning his second game in the prestigious Tata Steel Tournament in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands, defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer. Gukesh now holds an impressive rating of 2784 points, putting him at fourth place globally, while Erigaisi, the previous highest-ranked Indian, has slipped to fifth with 2779.5 points.

This achievement comes on the heels of Gukesh's triumph at the World Chess Championship in Singapore last December, where he beat China's Ding Liren to claim the coveted title. Gukesh, recently honored with the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, has been in exceptional form since his world title victory. Despite taking a break to attend post-championship events, Gukesh returned to competitive play without losing a game in Wijk Aan Zee. He currently holds two victories and three draws in the ongoing tournament, with more rounds to go.

Magnus Carlsen of Norway remains the world No.1, followed by Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana in the top three. Gukesh’s consistent performances indicate that his rise in the chess world is far from over, and he continues to make a mark on the global stage.