New Delhi: Indian youngster Gukesh D has crossed the challenging 2700 rating mark. Gukesh’s victory against Vietnamese GM Le Quang Liam in the Biel Chess Festival (Classic) tossed his live rating to 2703.9. He is only the sixth Indian and third youngest chess player to cross the 2700 mark.
Gukesh achieved this feat at the young age of 16 years 1 month and 17 days. Only two players Wei Yi (15 years 7 months and 29 days) and Alireza Firouzja (16 years 1 month and 11 days) achieved this mark at a younger age than Gukesh. As compared to the World Champion Magnus Carlsen, Gukesh has reached the 2700 rating 5 months and 14 days earlier. Magnus reached the 2700 rating at the age of 16 years 7 months and 1 day.
With this achievement, Gukesh has reached the 32nd spot in the world ranking and is currently India’s number 4 just behind Vishwanathan Anand, Harikrishna Pentala and Vidit Gujarathi. Before him, only five Indian players have achieved the feat, namely, Vishy Anand, Sasikiran, Harikrishna, Vidit and Adhiban.
It is to be noted that his 2700+ is the live rating, FIDE updates the ratings at the end of the month. If Gukesh maintains the mark by the end of July, FIDE will officially recognise him as the 129th player in the world to achieve it.
After 3 rounds in the Biel Chess Classic, Gukesh is leading with 2.5 points, followed by Arkadij Naiditsch with 2 points. Andrey Esipenko, A.R. Saleh Salem, Gata Kamsky and Vincent Keymer are tied in third place with 1.5 points.
Gukesh will be playing in the India B team in the upcoming FIDE Chess Olympiad. The Olympiad will begin on July 28 in Chennai.