Hikaru Nakamura shared his opinion on Indian chess players. Nakamura says India is not a normal country in the chess sense, and notes that it has a large number of strong players. Hikaru cites Pranesh M as an example, and notes that the young Indian GM did not play at the Chess Olympiad 2026.

Hikaru Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura

World's No. 2

“Pranesh was not in the Olympiad, right? He’s a very, very good player, by the way. Another player who, in a normal country, would be on the Olympiad team.

If Pranesh lived in any normal country, he’d probably be board two or better on any of these teams. But unfortunately, he lives in India. And India, as we know, has a few too many good players.

I’m not saying he’s better than Nihal. I’m just telling you that, if I look at it objectively, he’d be board one or board two.

India is not a normal country in the chess sense. There are too many good players in India. It’s not a normal country because there are a bunch of ridiculously good players. I feel that probably the 20th player in India would be a board two in most countries.

I’m saying that in a good way. I’m not saying that in some kind of weird, disrespectful way about India or something.”

India and the USA have the largest number of players rated 2700+, with 5 in each federation. India’s No. 1 and World’s No. 7 is Praggnanandhaa R. Gukesh Dommaraju is the youngest World Champion in chess history and the second Indian player to achieve the crown. Team India won a gold medal in 2024, silver in 2026, and bronze medals in 2014 and 2022 at the Chess Olympiad in the Open section.

Credit: Lennart Ootes