23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Top 10 women chess players in India: At No. 1 is the youngest Grandmaster
Top 10 women chess players in India: India has long been a chess powerhouse, producing world-class talent who have made their mark on the global stage. While legends like Viswanathan Anand and rising stars like D Gukesh often steal the spotlight, India's women chess players have been quietly and steadily making their presence felt, both at home and abroad. From prodigies dominating international tournaments to seasoned champions breaking barriers, these women have proven that chess excellence knows no gender.
One of the key indicators of a player's prowess is their FIDE rating, which evaluates skill based on consistent performance against ranked the higher a player's rating, the stronger and more consistent their performance is.
Here are India's top women chess players, ranked according to FIDE:
Source: Forbes
Koneru Humpy, born in Gudivada in 1987, showed early promise in chess, guided by her father from age six. By eight, she was winning local tournaments. In 2002, she made history as the youngest female Grandmaster at 15, breaking Judit Polgár's record. Humpy, later, became the second woman to surpass a 2600 Elo rating. Her achievements earned her the prestigious Arjuna Award and Padma Shri.
Born in 1991 in Guntur, Harika Dronavalli became a Grandmaster in 2009, showcasing her chess prowess early on. She's a three-time bronze medalist at the Women's World Championship (2012, 2015, 2017) and won the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in 2016. She is the second Indian woman to cross the 2600 Elo mark and has received both the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri for her achievements.
Born in 2001, Vaishali Rameshbabu earned the Grandmaster title in 2024. Alongside her brother Praggnanandhaa, they made history as the first sibling duo to both become Grandmasters and qualify for the prestigious Candidates Tournament.
Divya Deshmukh, a rising star in Indian chess, earned the International Master title in 2023. One of her major achievements came in 2024 when she clinched the title at the FIDE World Junior Girls Chess Championship. She also played a key role in India's gold medal victory at the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad, further cementing her status as a promising young talent.
Tania Sachdev is a renowned Indian chess player who holds the titles of Woman Grandmaster and International Master. She reached her peak FIDE rating of 2443 in September 2013. A key member of the Indian team, she contributed to their gold medal win at the 45th Chess Olympiad, hosted by the International Chess Federation in Budapest.
Vantika Agrawal, born in September 2002, holds the FIDE titles of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) and International Master (IM). She has three gold medals at the Chess Olympiad, and two golds at the 45th Chess Olympiad in 2024. Agrawal also secured a silver medal with the Indian Team at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games. Her accolades extend to medals in Commonwealth, World Youth, Asian Youth, and National Championships. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, she was recently awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award.
P V Nandhidhaa from Tamil Nadu, born on April 10, 1996, holds the FIDE titles of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) and Woman International Master (WIM), making her the 17th Woman Grandmaster of India. She has achieved significant success in her career, including winning an individual Gold in the Asian Chess Championship in 2022 and becoming the reigning National Women Chess Champion in 2024. She has also secured medals in Commonwealth and Asian-level tournaments across various age categories. Her peak FIDE Elo rating is 2380, and she continues to compete at a high level.
Padmini Rout, born on January 5, 1994, holds the titles of International Master (IM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM). Rout has won the National Women's Premier Championship five times and was the Asian Women's Champion in 2018. She also earned an individual gold medal at the 2014 Women's Chess Olympiad.
Born in 1992, Bhakti Kulkarni holds the prestigious FIDE titles of Woman Grandmaster (2012) and International Master (2019). A recipient of the Arjuna Award for her significant contributions to chess, Kulkarni has achieved notable successes, including winning the Asian Women's Chess Championship and representing India in various international tournaments.
Rakshitta Ravi, born on April 24, 2005, holds the FIDE title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM), which she achieved in April 2023. Her parents, T S Ravi and Sai Meera Ravi, are both titled chess players. Rakshitta earned her Woman International Master (WIM) title at 13 and her WGM title at 17, making her India's 24th Woman Grandmaster.
