World chess champion Gukesh slips 50 points behind Carlsen in FIDE ratings

One of the questions India's World Champion D Gukesh is often asked is when he will surpass superstar Magnus Carlsen as the top-ranked men's player in the world.

Each time, Gukesh gives a modest response that he has to work a lot harder to reach the position of World No. 1. He reiterated his plan during a visit to the Tirupati Temple.

Since becoming the youngest World Chess Champion last December, the 18-year-old Gukesh has made significant improvement in his standings, going from India No. 2 to No. 1 and reaching his highest position of third in the most recent FIDE update.

However, each time, Norwegian Carlsen has maintained a healthy lead at the summit. Last October, when Gukesh hit his highest ever Elo rating of 2794, Carlsen was on 2831, a difference of 37 points. Carlsen has been World No. 1 since July 2011 when he overtook India’s five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand.

Now in the live ratings updated shortly after the completion of the Norwegian Team Chess Championship, Carlsen has extended the lead to 50 points. Carlsen played three games on the top board for his team Offerspill, winning all three, against Simen Agdestein, Kristian Stuvik Holm and Alparsian Isik.

With 4 points gained from the Norwegian event, Carlsen has increased his live rating to 2837, stretching his lead with Gukesh (2787) to 50 points. American Hikaru Nakamura in the only other player with more than 2800 (2802) Elo points.

Recently, India registered its best-ever performance in FIDE ratings by getting five players into the top 15. Besides Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, Aravindh Chithambaram and Viswanathan Anand are the other Indians in the top 15.