Nihal Sarin reaches 2700

by Shahid Ahmed - 03/10/2025

Nihal Sarin finally reached the coveted 2700 rating in a published FIDE Rating list. He became the tenth Indian to achieve so. The 21-year-old from Kerala, gained 9.9 Elo rating points at FIDE Grand Swiss 2025. Arjun Erigaisi returned to World no.4, after adding 1.5 Elo rating points. R Praggnanandhaa slipped to World no.5. World Champion, D Gukesh moved out of World Top ten for the first time since May 2024. There are still six Indians in Top 30. Among the Women, four are in Top 20. FIDE Women's World Cup winner, GM Divya Deshmukh returned to World no.11 among Women after her stellar performance at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 Open. GM R Vaishali gained 19.6 Elo rating points by winning FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 Women for the second consecutive edition. Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Arjun Erigaisi regains World no.4, A dozen Indians in World Top 100

For the first time in more than six months, there are only two Indians in World top 10. Arjun Erigaisi returned to World no.4. R Praggnanandhaa dropped a place to World no.5. World Champion moved out of World Top 10. Among the Women, GM Divya Deshmukh returned to World no.11 among Women. GM R Vaishali's historic second consecutive FIDE Grand Swiss Women 2025 triumph got her back to World no.15.

GM Arjun Erigaisi gained 1.5 Elo rating point at FIDE Grand Swiss to return to World no.4 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

GM Vidit Gujrathi gained 3.6 Elo rating points at FIDE Grand Swiss | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

GM Nihal Sarin finally reached the coveted 2700 rating after adding 9.9 Elo rating points at FIDE Grand Swiss | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

World Junior champion, GM Pranav Venkatesh increased his Elo rating by 22.1 points at FIDE Grand Swiss to move to 2641 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

GM Pranesh M gained 8.6 Elo rating points at Serbian First League 2025 | Photo: Romania Chess Federation

Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh, Vishy Anand, Vidit Gujrathi and Aravindh Chithambaram maintain their place in World Top 30 | Source: FIDE

There are now twelve Indians in World Top 100 | Source: FIDE

Women: Divya Deshmukh returns to World no.11

Four Indian women are in top 20. They are - GM Koneru Humpy, World no.6, GM Divya Deshmukh, World no.11, GM R Vaishali, World no.15 and GM Harika Dronavalli, World no.18 among women. Divya returned to World no.11 among Women after her stellar performance FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 Open. She gained 19.6 Elo rating points at that event. Vaishali gained 21.4 Elo rating points after winning the FIDE Grand Swiss Women for the second consecutive edition. There are currently eight Indians among the Top 100 women.

IM Divya Deshmukh returned to World no.11 among Women

GM R Vaishali gained 19.6 Elo rating points by winning FIDE Grand Swiss Women | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Four Indians are in World Top 20 among Women | Source: FIDE

Only seven Indians are among World Top 100 Women | Source: FIDE

Countries

India had the no.2 position in September 2025 FIDE Rating list in terms of average rating of top ten players in the Open, only nine Elo rating points behind the USA. The gap got increased by three more points in October.

India is now twelve average Elo rating point behind the USA among Top Federations Open | Source: FIDE

India is at no.2 among Top federations Women, 92 average Elo rating points behind China | Source: FIDE

India is at second place in Top federations Mixed list, 21 average Elo rating points behind China | Source: FIDE

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