Unborn chess prodigies, geopolitical divides and more: In a rapidly changing world, Viswanathan Anand held steady as India's chess 'King' since 1986

India's chess landscape experienced a seismic shift as Dommaraju Gukesh officially became the country's top-ranked player on September 1, 2023, surpassing the legendary Viswanathan Anand.

SportsTak

• Sun • 03 Sep 2023

Highlights:

Dommaraju Gukesh officially became the country's top-ranked player on September 1.Gukesh surpassed the legendary Viswanathan Anand to become the highest-ranked Indian chess player.With a FIDE rating of 2758, Gukesh ascended to the 8th position globally, nudging Anand (2754) to the 9th spot.

India's chess landscape experienced a seismic shift as Dommaraju Gukesh officially became the country's top-ranked player on September 1, 2023, surpassing the legendary Viswanathan Anand. With a FIDE rating of 2758, Gukesh ascended to the 8th position globally, nudging Anand (2754) to the 9th spot. While Magnus Carlsen continues his reign as the world no. 1, India is also making a strong statement with three other players in the top 30.

A Walk Down Memory Lane: What was the World Like in 1986?

The last time someone other than Anand was India's No.1 chess player, the world was vastly different.

Unborn Chess Prodigies: Neither Gukesh (born 2006) nor any of the current top 30 Indian chess players were alive. Even Magnus Carlsen, the modern GOAT of chess, was yet to be born (1990).

The Digital Desert: Internet connectivity was a foreign concept in India until VSNL introduced it almost a decade later in 1995.

Geopolitical Divides: The Berlin Wall still separated East and West Germany, and the Cold War was in full swing.

Chess Supremacy: Gary Kasparov was the reigning world champion, and the Soviet Union dominated the chess world.

Iconic Moments in Sports: Diego Maradona had just led Argentina to World Cup glory, and Steaua Bucaresti were the European Cup holders.

Path to Knighthood: Alex Ferguson began his historic managerial career at Manchester United.

Track Queen to Olympic Official: PT Usha dominated the Asian Games, and today she's the President of the Indian Olympic Association.

Cricket in India: India had won their first-ever Cricket World Cup, and cricket was emerging as the nation's sport.

One King Khan: Muhammad Yusuf Khan, better known as Dilip Kumar, was Bollywood’s reigning star.

Cinematic Parallels: Tamil movie 'Vikram' was a hit in 1986, and a movie by the same name is making waves in 2023.

As Dommaraju Gukesh takes over as India's top-ranked chess player, he inherits not just a title but a legacy that Viswanathan Anand held for an incredible 37 years. With young talents like Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi, and Arjun Erigaisi in the fray, the future of Indian chess looks more promising than ever.