From Pragg to Gukesh: Indian payers in high demand at elite chess events

With three players in the top six in world chess rankings, Indian presence is more than obvious in virtually every event conducted by FIDE (the World Chess Organisation) or any of the prestigious closed-circuit chess tournaments (round robin) akin to the ‘Grand Slam’ tennis tournaments. Indian players are no longer the outsiders or the aberrations, they are awe inspiring attractors and key players. Freestyle Chess Grand slam or the Grand Chess Tour featuring multiple events are the events every aspiring world champion wants to be featured in.

The entry to these elite events is strictly by invitation, albeit the top-rated players automatically attract invites. Featuring just 10 to 12 players in the main event, these invites are most coveted and organisers use their discretion to extend them to popular prodigies or local talents. Incidentally, Gukesh with a power packed performance (individual gold on top board) at the 2022 Chennai Olympiad and R Praggnanandhaa, courtesy his online victory over Magnus Carlsen - the highest ever rated player on the planet, have been beneficiaries of these invitations.

All- time greats like Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Vladimir Kramnik and Garry Kasparov to name a few, have crafted classy chess careers by honing their skills in these tournaments. Valuable experience in playing the elites, mental toughness, developing deeper strategic understanding, adapting to different playing styles and strength are the add-ons or requisites to march towards the world title, not to mention recognition and monetary benefits.

Praggnanandhaa and reigning World Champion D Gukesh are in action at the ongoing Sinquefield Cup in the United State. Pragg incidentally won his first elite event this January, the traditional Tata Steel Masters tournament (previously Corus Chess tournament) in its 87th edition, one which five-time World Champion Anand won on five occasions in his illustrious career.

Anand reveals: “My big break-through was winning the World juniors and getting the GM title almost immediately. I was then invited as a Commentator for the World Cup in Brussels in 1988. It was a big chance for me to meet a lot of bigwigs, especially the Corus organisers who offered me a chance to play there in 1989”.

Anand  won the tournament jointly on debut and was invited to play the prestigious Reggio Emelia in 1991. The Chennai man won this event, defeating then reigning champion Garry Kasparov to announce his arrival in the big league.

“Playing these events gave me a chance to work on different skill sets. There was a different vibe in playing those tournaments then”.

Pentala Harikrishna and Krishnan Sasikiran, two of India’s best talents after Anand, were the other Indians who received an occasional invite.

Anand adds: “Times have changed a bit. Gukesh got some big invitations in 2024 like the Norway Chess tournament. Pragg got a chance a bit late and now they are almost regulars”. The highly talented Vidhit Gujrathi, Aravindh Chithambaram and Nihal Sareen are the other Indians to receive an occasional invite.

D Gukesh.

Dronacharya Awardee R B Ramesh is quite vocal that the invites to these elite events can boost and shape a player’s career. “It is important to make good use of these opportunities and if performance in the first invite exceeds expectations, then it ensures regular invites to future tournaments.”

Ramesh minces no words as he adds: “The organisers are from different countries so we cannot claim these spots as our birthrights, we have to perform enough to attract these invites. Previously most top invites would be sent to former USSR or Russia as they boasted of all top players but things have changed now. There will always be exceptions and aberrations with deserving players not getting invites, unfortunately we cannot force organisers to invite”

Arjun Erigaisi, only the second Indian to cross the Elo barrier 2800, confessed: “Last year I didn’t get many invitations and it is a bit understandable from the organisers point of view as Pragg and Gukesh were younger than me and had qualified for the Candidates and were better prospects. The shocking part for me is not getting any invites this year, specially as I had crossed the 2800 barrier in January rating list this year. I am trying not to let these things affect me and focus on my game.”

Divya Deshmukh.

Arjun has been a prolific tournament winner in Open events, clinching most of the events he competes in and will feature in the Grand Swiss event starting in 10 days.

Unfortunately, in this era of equals, events for women have been scarce, and not only in India. Two-time Women’s Rapid World Champion Koneru Humpy was only the second women in the history of the game to cross the Elo 2600 barrier after the legendary Judit Polgar. The youngest women in the world then to be awarded the GM title at 15 years of age in 2002, India’s golden girl of chess rues: “There were hardly any events for women and in those days, I was very inexperienced and hardly had exposure in playing online. I got a lot of flak and criticism for my mixed results. In fact I didn’t have a sponsor for three years even after becoming GM and winning the World Junior girls title at just 14 years, an all- time record. “

Playing these events gave me a chance to work on different skill sets. There was a different vibe in playing those tournaments then... It was a big chance for me to meet a lot of bigwigs especially the Corus organisers who offered me a chance to play there in 1989.
Viswanathan Anand

Humpy received her first invite, for the Women’s North Ural Cup rather late in 2005 but won it comfortably and convincingly ahead of much fancied players like World Champions Antoneata Stefanova and Anna Ushenina. This despite her luggage getting misplaced and arriving only after the second round.

“It was really difficult to play tournaments abroad in those days. After that I don’t have any problem getting invitations, as I have maintained top world rankings throughout my career” says Humpy.

Dronavalli Harika and Vaishali Ramesh Babu are the other Indian players who have featured in elite events and also made their presence felt to a certain extent. 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian woman to win the Women’s World Cup this year and automatically qualified for the Women’s Candidates tournament. This triumph will open up the door of opportunity for Divya and others sooner rather than later! (Manisha Mohite is a Bengaluru-based chess writer)