In a country where cricket often steals the spotlight, a quiet revolution is unfolding on 64 squares. Indian women are not only competing in chess, they’re changing how the world sees it. Behind every rating point is a story of early mornings, lost games, missed birthdays, and unshakable will.
This isn’t just a ranking of India’s top women chess players in 2025. It’s a collection of journeys, each one different, but all leading toward the same goal: proving that Indian women can dominate one of the world’s most demanding sports.
Whether you’re a young girl just learning how to castle or a parent wondering if chess can be more than a hobby, this list will show you what’s possible and why now is the best time to start.
Top 10 Indian Women Chess Players 2025
| Rank | Name | Title | FIDE Rating | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koneru Humpy | GM | 2543 | Youngest Indian woman to achieve GM title at 15; World No. 5 in women’s classical chess; Winner of 2025 Pune FIDE Women’s Grand Prix |
| 2 | Dronavalli Harika | GM | 2483 | Multiple-time World Championship semifinalist; consistent top performer |
| 3 | Vaishali Rameshbabu | GM | 2475 | First Indian sister-brother GM duo with Praggnanandhaa; 2023 Women’s Grand Swiss winner |
| 4 | Divya Deshmukh | IM | 2469 | Youngest Indian woman to cross 2400 rating; 2024 FIDE World U20 Girls Chess Champion |
| 5 | Tania Sachdev | IM | 2396 | Renowned commentator and multiple-time national champion |
| 6 | Vantika Agrawal | IM | 2377 | Gold medalist at 2024 Chess Olympiad; 2022 Asian Games silver medalist |
| 7 | P. V. Nandhidhaa | WGM | 2363 | 2024 National Women’s Champion; 2022 Asian Champion |
| 8 | Padmini Rout | IM | 2359 | Five-time National Women’s Premier Champion; 2014 Olympiad individual gold medalist |
| 9 | Bhakti Kulkarni | IM | 2356 | 2016 Asian Women’s Champion; recipient of Arjuna Award |
| 10 | Rakshitta Ravi | WGM | 2324 | Achieved WGM title at 17; daughter of two titled chess players |
1. Koneru Humpy – Still at the Top, Still Setting the Standard
Koneru Humpy became the youngest woman Grandmaster in the world at 15. Now in her late 30s, she remains India’s top-rated woman with a FIDE rating of 2543 in 2025. After a break from competitive play for marriage and motherhood, she returned to win the 2019 Women’s World Rapid Championship. Her story proves that even in a game filled with young prodigies, long-term dedication is still unbeatable. Humpy’s presence in every major tournament today reminds young players that peak performance doesn’t expire.
2. Dronavalli Harika – The Consistent Force Behind India’s Rise
With a current rating of 2483, Grandmaster Harika has been a fixture in world championships and Olympiads for more than a decade. Her semifinal runs at the Women’s World Championships (2012, 2015, 2017) built her global reputation, but what stands out even more is her unshakable consistency. In 2022, while seven months pregnant, she played all nine rounds of the Chess Olympiad for Team India. Harika’s style isn’t flashy-but her mental strength and loyalty to the game are unmatched.
3. Vaishali R – From Younger Sister to Grandmaster on Her Own Terms
For years, Vaishali was known as “Praggnanandhaa’s sister.” Today, she’s a Grandmaster herself with a FIDE rating of 2475 and her own global standing. Her breakout came in 2023 when she won the Women’s Grand Swiss, defeating former world champions. In 2024, she earned her final GM norm. Vaishali’s rise reflects her quiet determination to be more than a tag-along sibling. She’s now a key player for India and a symbol of building your own path-even when starting in someone else’s shadow.
4. Divya Deshmukh – The New Star Who Doesn’t Wait for Permission
At just 19 years old and rated 2469, Divya Deshmukh has already crossed major milestones-winning the U20 World Championship in 2024 and becoming India’s youngest woman to cross 2400. What’s striking about her is her energy: aggressive play, fast calculation, and fearlessness against older GMs. Unlike many who transition slowly from junior to senior level, Divya never asked for time-she took space, and owned it. She represents a new kind of Indian player: bold, fast, and future-ready.
5. Tania Sachdev – The Face of Indian Chess Who Still Fights on the Board
Tania’s reputation as a commentator sometimes overshadows her fierce career as a player. But with a rating of 2396 and over two decades of national and international experience, she remains one of India’s most trusted team players. From Olympiads to Asian Championships, she has represented India since 2002. Her voice brought chess into living rooms, but her real legacy lies in proving that you can balance chess, media, and personality-without giving up the fight at the board.
6. Vantika Agrawal – The Quiet Climber Who Keeps Delivering
Vantika, rated 2377, doesn’t make headlines often-but she consistently brings points home. She was a gold medalist in the 2024 Chess Olympiad and a silver medalist at the 2022 Asian Games. Her strength lies in solid positional play and reliability under pressure. She’s become a backbone for team India, often facing tough pairings and holding her own. Her calm approach and tournament discipline are a model for players who may not be “wunderkinds” but win with hard work.
7. P. V. Nandhidhaa – Balancing Engineering and Asia’s Chess Crown
In 2022, Nandhidhaa stunned many by winning the Asian Continental Women’s Championship while completing her engineering degree. In 2025, with a rating of 2363, she remains one of India’s most versatile players. She balances tactical sharpness with deep preparation and shows that chess can coexist with academics. For girls in college who feel the pressure to quit the game, Nandhidhaa proves that it’s not chess or career-it can be both.
8. Padmini Rout – A National Champion Who’s Always Game-Ready
With a FIDE rating of 2359, Padmini Rout has been a dominant force in domestic chess-winning the National Premier Women’s title five times. Her individual gold at the 2014 Olympiad made her a fan favorite, especially for her deep endgame strength. Coming from Odisha, she broke into the national circuit through sheer grit. Her style is slow-burning: deep, calculated, and relentlessly accurate. She’s not the loudest player-but when the stakes are high, she delivers.
9. Bhakti Kulkarni – Creative, Calm, and Unafraid of Pressure
Hailing from Goa, Bhakti has held her own among India’s elite women for over a decade. Rated 2356 in 2025, she was the 2016 Asian Women’s Champion and regularly represents India in team formats. Her strength lies in creativity-her attacking play surprises even top-level opponents. She’s also one of the few players who shows visible joy at the board, reminding young girls that chess doesn’t have to feel like pressure-it can be play.
10. Rakshitta Ravi – Young Talent With Chess in Her DNA
At just 18 and rated 2324, Rakshitta is one of the fastest-rising names in India. Born to two titled players, she had chess all around her growing up. But she’s not just continuing tradition-she’s accelerating it. She earned her WGM title before age 17 and is now hunting down her IM norms. Her game is unusually mature for her age: calm, clean, and strategic. She’s part of the next wave-players who grew up with engines but still know how to think for themselves.
Summary – Women Redefining Chess Success in India
What links a teenager in Nagpur, a mother in Guntur, and a champion from Goa? Chess and the choice to keep going even when no one’s watching.
These top 10 players have climbed national and global ranks, faced off against world champions, balanced academics, careers, and even pregnancies, all without losing focus. Their stories aren’t just about winning medals or earning norms. They’re about perseverance, adaptation, and quiet brilliance.
If you’re thinking about quitting, take a breath and read their stories again. If you haven’t started yet, know this: you don’t need to be perfect to begin. You just need a board, a dream, and the courage to move your first pawn.
