Amongst Indian chess players there are 69 Grandmasters, 124 International Masters, 20 Woman Grandmasters, and 42 Woman International Masters, and a total of 33,028 rated players, as of January 2021 according to FIDE, the International Chess Federation.
As of January 2021, the top 10 active Indian chess players have an average rating of 2670, 4th highest in the world behind Russia, United States, and China. The top 10 active women Indian players have an average rating of 2405, 3rd highest in the world behind China and Russia.
As of 2020, 19 different players have been conferred with the highest civilian and sports honours of India including the Padma awards and the Arjuna Award. Viswanathan Anand was the first sportsperson to receive the second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, in 2008 and the inaugural highest sports award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, in 1991–92.
The list of top 10 active players as of January 2021.[1][2] The top 100 players of the world include 4 Indian players, amongst them Viswanathan Anand at Rank 16.[3] The top 100 women players of the world include 7 Indian players, amongst them Koneru Humpy at Rank 3.[4]
The list of top 10 active junior (under the age of 20 as of 1 January of that year) players as of January 2021. The top 100 junior players of the world include 16 Indian players, amongst them Nihal Sarin at Rank 6.[7] The top 100 junior girl players of the world include 13 Indian players, amongst them Vaishali Rameshbabu at Rank 8.[8]
As of 2020, 19 different individuals have been conferred India's top civilian and sports awards. Five different individuals have been conferred the Padma awards.[9]Anupama Gokhale was the first chess player to be awarded the Padma Shri at the age of 16 in 1986. Viswanathan Anand became the first sportsperson to receive the second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, in 2008 after becoming the undisputed World Chess Champion in 2007.[10][11]
Nineteen different individuals have received top sports honours of India as of 2020. Anand was the recipient of the inaugural highest sports award Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1991–92. Seventeen individuals have been awarded the Arjuna Award for exceptional performance in chess at the international level. Manuel Aaron was the first chess player to receive this award in its inception year of 1961.[12]Rohini Khadilkar was the second chess player and first female chess player to receive this award in 1980–81. In total, seven women chess players have received this award. Two chess coaches—including Raghunandan Gokhle (spouse of Anupama Gokhale) and Koneru Ashok (father and coach of Koneru Humpy)—have received the Dronacharya Award, the highest sports coaching honour of India.[13]
As of January 2021, India has 69 Grandmasters (GM) including 2 women players holding the title, 124 International Masters (IM) including 7 women players holding the title, 20 Woman Grandmasters (WGM) and 42 Woman International Masters (WIM) and a total of 33,028 rated players.[19][20] Women rated players are 3,534 in number forming 10.7% of the total rated players of India.[21] The first titled player of India was Manuel Aaron, when he became the first IM of India in 1961. Viswanathan Anand became India's first GM in 1988.[12][22]
^Taneja, Anil (2009). World of Sports Indoor. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 90–92. ISBN978-81-7835-765-2. Archived from the original on 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
^"Padma Awards: 2019"(PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs (India). 25 January 2019. Archived(PDF) from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2020.