Latest news with #Praggnanandhaa
News18
8 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
R Praggnanandhaa Overthrows World Champion D Gukesh In Live Chess Rankings; Enters Top 5
Last Updated: Praggnanandhaa is now fifth in the live FIDE Rankings with a rating of 2777.2, surpassing Gukesh. It seems as if Gukesh Dommaraju has stiff competition brewing for his throne, and it is none other than his Indian compatriot R Praggnanandhaa, who is aiming to dethrone the reigning World Champion. Pragg's steady ascent to the upper echelons of the chess world has now been exemplified with the young Indian overtaking the reigning champion Gukesh in the live FIDE Rankings. As per Praggnanandhaa currently stands fifth overall in the world with a rating of 2777.2, toppling over Gukesh, who stands at sixth with a rating of 2776.6, as of June 20. Yet, this still doesn't make Pragg India's No.1, as that honour still is bestowed upon Arjun Erigaisi, who stands tall at fourth place in the world with a rating of 2780.7. The 18-year-old from Chennai has emerged as one of India's brightest stars, steadily carving his place among the elite while carrying the weight of a chess revolution unfolding back home. Earlier this year, Praggnanandhaa joined an exclusive club, becoming only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the prestigious Tata Steel Chess tournament. The Indian GM has only one goal in his mind for the upcoming year: secure qualification for the 2026 Candidates to have a shot at competing for the Championship. 'This year is all about qualifying for the Candidates Tournament next year," Praggnandhaa said in an exclusive interaction with News18 Sports. Praggnanandhaa drew in the first round and then got his first win in Round 2, beating Uzbek Shamsiddin Vokhidov with the white pieces. He leads the tournament leaderboard with 1.5 points, tied with Erigaisi and others. The shift in rankings reignites the intense competitive arc between Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh.
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First Post
12 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
Challenger to champion: How R Praggnanandhaa learnt to play for victory, not just experience
R Praggnanandhaa emerged as India's leading chess prodigy in 2023 but had a subdued 2024 as world champion D Gukesh took the spotlight. In 2025, however, he's back in form. In an exclusive chat, Praggnanandhaa explains the changes he made to achieve consistent success. read more Before D Gukesh became the youngest chess world champion in 2024, R Praggnanandhaa emerged as India's breakout star in 2023. The then-18-year-old held Magnus Carlsen to two draws in the classical games of the FIDE Chess World Cup . Although he eventually lost to the five-time world champion in the tie-breaks, Praggnanandhaa had already made a significant impact on the global chess stage. Then came 2024. Praggnanandhaa finally secured his first win over Carlsen, the highest-rated chess player of all time, at Norway Chess and also helped India win a historic gold at the 45th Chess Olympiad. But at an individual level, the big trophies were missing. He finished fifth at the Candidates as Gukesh won the tournament at 17 and then went on to beat Ding Liren in December to become the world champion at 18. At the World Rapid Championship, Praggnanandhaa was in joint lead till the penultimate round before a blunder against teenager and eventual winner Volodar Murzin brought everything crashing down for the Indian. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pure ecstasy and brutal agony, all within the span of a few months. Praggnanandhaa stood at a crossroads. Talent wasn't the issue; the challenge was using it to cross the finish line. Something was off. Something had to change. But what, exactly? That's when Praggnanandhaa turned to his most trusted ally in the chess world: his coach, R Ramesh. 'I think Ramesh knows me the best regarding chess. I've been working with Ramesh for the last 11 years,' Praggnanandhaa told Firstpost. 'We had a camp towards the end of the year. We were discussing all these issues in my game. And then we tried to go into details and try to find what is causing those issues and tried to find a solution to it. 'And I think all this work is paying off. In this regard, I think credit should be given to him.' Mental adjustments make Praggnanandhaa a winner But what was the solution? It was something seemingly minor, yet profound enough to be a life lesson. Praggnanandhaa was already beating top players, including Carlsen, but deep down, even he wasn't entirely sure of what he was capable of. In that camp at the end of 2024, Praggnanandhaa realised the fault was not in his game, but in his thinking. You can't beat the best players in the world if you don't think of yourself as the best. Since then, he has been a different player, winning the prestigious Tata Steel Masters at the start of the 2025 by beating Gukesh in a tie-breaker , clinching the Grand Chess Tour Superbet Chess Classic Romania last month and currently leading the FIDE Circuit 2025 standings, which can earn him a spot in the 2026 Candidates. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I think it's mostly about mental changes, like being more confident in my abilities and trying to be more ambitious in games and not backing down against anyone,' Praggnanandhaa said while explaining what has changed in his game from 2024. 'You know, just fight, fight it out till the end. And as I said, I think once you believe in your abilities, you will fight in every game. Sometimes last year, especially in some tournaments, I was not feeling confident. So I think that was lacking. And once you regain that, you can be more ambitious. And I think now I'm more ambitious and fighting in every game.' A big support in his journey has also been his sponsors, who have made travel and training easy for the teenage chess star. 'Chess is expensive, especially when you travel to Europe for a tournament. You need to have trainers to help you during the tournaments. Apart from the tournament as well,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'It's difficult when you prepare for tournaments like the Candidates. This is where the Adani Group, coming in and supporting players, is essential. This happened just before the Candidates, so I could prepare my best. I am also able to train with the best facilities. That's showing in my result. I don't need to worry about anything, just focus on the game and keep improving.' With the key to winning decoded and sponsors onboard, Praggnanandhaa appears to be on the right path — grounded, yet ambitious. The teenager is well aware that Magnus Carlsen and elite players like Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana aren't going anywhere. And the competition is rising back home too, with the likes of D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi. Praggnanandhaa is pleased with the progress he has made, but he knows there's still a long way to go. 'Yeah, I wouldn't really say I've been progressing rapidly,' Praggnanandhaa said. 'There have been some hiccups in between, like last year just didn't go my way. This year has been good for me so far, and I hope to continue that way. If you compare just these six months, then it's been good. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'But if you like, take into account the last year, then I think it's just normal progress and considering our last few months, definitely happy with my games and I want to continue playing this way,' he signed off.
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
R Praggnanandhaa overtakes D Gukesh in world chess rankings, reigning world champion is now India No. 3
Jun 21, 2025 08:10 AM IST In a major change in the standings, R Praggnanandhaa has overtaken reigning world champion D Gukesh in the live FIDE rankings. On Saturday, Praggnanandhaa's live rating stood at 2777.2 and Gukesh's is at 2776.6. Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi, who had already overtaken Gukesh recently, is fourth with a rating of 2780.7. R Praggnanandhaa has overtaken D Gukesh in the world chess rankings.(Twitter) The huge change in the rankings also makes Praggnanandhaa the new India No. 2, and Gukesh is third in the national rankings. Praggnanandhaa is currently in action in the UzChess Cup Masters in Tashkent, hosted by the Uzbekistan Chess Federation. Praggnanandhaa drew in the first round and then got his first win in Round 2, beating Uzbek Shamsiddin Vokhidov with the white pieces. He leads the tournament leaderboard with 1.5 points, tied with Erigaisi and others. Praggnanandhaa also beat Gukesh at the TATA Masters in Wijk aan Zee, on January. He came out on top, beating Gukesh in the deciding tie-breaker round. After winning the title, he said, 'It (the title) was very important for my confidence. Quite a few World champions have played in the tournament. I feel proud to have won such a prestigious and historical championships. In the second half of 2024, I was not happy with the quality of my games. I trained a lot with my coach R. B. Ramesh for this. I am not thinking of the FIDE Candidates as it is far away. 2025 looks exciting.' On beating Gukesh, he added, 'It was full of tension. We lost to strong players [Pragg lost to Vincent Keymer while Gukesh lost to Arjun Erigaisi in the 13th and final round]. The tiebreaker was exciting. It was tiring as well I had played six-and-a-half hours of classical game and with 30 minutes of rest had to play the blitz playoffs. These were risky games as each had 10 seconds to make a move. I couldn't think of anything.' Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, where Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Historic! R Praggnanandhaa surpasses world champion D Gukesh in world chess rankings; all you need to know
R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh (Agency Photo) NEW DELHI: In a major milestone for Indian chess, R Praggnanandhaa has leapfrogged reigning world champion D Gukesh in the live FIDE rankings, marking a significant personal and national achievement. As of Saturday, Praggnanandhaa's live rating climbed to 2777.2, nudging past Gukesh's 2776.6. The 19-year-old prodigy is currently competing in the UzChess Cup Masters in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a prestigious event hosted by the Uzbekistan Chess Federation that's quickly gaining global attention. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! After a draw in the opening round, Praggnanandhaa bounced back in style in Round 2, defeating Uzbekistan's Shamsiddin Vokhidov with the white pieces. World's top 10 in live rankings (Photo: He now leads the tournament standings with 1.5 points, tied with fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi and others. Praggnanandhaa's rise in the rankings is part of a broader Indian surge in world chess. Poll Do you believe India is experiencing a golden generation in chess? Yes, absolutely Maybe, it's possible No, it's too early to say Recently, India had four players in the global top 10 live ratings — Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Arjun, and the newly crowned Aravindh Chithambaram, who clinched the title at the 6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial in Armenia. In that tightly contested event, Aravindh and Praggnanandhaa both scored 6.5/9, but Aravindh claimed the top spot on tie-break. ALSO READ: ' If there were chess tournaments in Bangladesh, why would I come to India?': 80-year-old Rani Hamid The two, who train together under coach RB Ramesh, pushed each other throughout the event. 'It was a good tournament for me,' Praggnanandhaa reflected, 'but I missed that one chance in Round 2... That win would've made the difference.' Despite that, Praggnanandhaa's consistent brilliance and recent form have now elevated him above even the world champion, a remarkable feat for a player still in his teens. With India's young guns dominating international chess and pushing each other to new heights, a golden generation may already be here. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
‘Magnus Carlsen Is Still a Level Above, But We're Closing In'
Last Updated: In an exclusive interview, chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa opens up on chasing Magnus Carlsen, his 2025 success, India's chess boom, and his path to the Candidates Tournament. In the increasingly crowded arena of global chess, R Praggnanandhaa stands out—not just for his youth, but for his quiet confidence and an ever-growing list of achievements that belie his age. The 18-year-old from Chennai has emerged as one of India's brightest stars, steadily carving his place among the elite while carrying the weight of a chess revolution unfolding back home. Fresh off a strong showing at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial in Armenia, where he finished tied on points with compatriot Aravindh Chidambaram, Praggnanandhaa remains unfazed by the thin margins that separate victory from second place. 'I scored +4, which is quite good in this field," he says matter-of-factly. 'In the end, I finished second because of the tiebreak, but I don't really care too much about whether it's first or second. For me, I played well and tried for first place." It's this grounded outlook that seems to fuel his steady ascent. Earlier this year, Praggnanandhaa joined an exclusive club, becoming only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the prestigious Tata Steel Chess tournament. 'Starting the year like that gave me a lot of confidence, especially after having a rough year previously," he reflects. 'That boost was much needed." Responding to Carlsen: Young Stars Are Closing the Gap But even as his personal milestones accumulate, Praggnanandhaa is acutely aware of the larger conversation in world chess, particularly following Magnus Carlsen's recent comments questioning whether anyone is ready to succeed him at the top. 'The older players have more experience for sure," Praggnanandhaa concedes, but he is quick to defend the rising generation. 'We're improving rapidly, and young players are already achieving great results. Maybe we're not completely at their level yet, but we're very close." So far in 2025, Praggnanandhaa has made a conscious shift in his approach. 'I've tried to be more ambitious and fight for that extra half point in every game," he explains. 'This year, I'm scoring more wins compared to last year when I was making too many draws. Now, I'm fighting much more than I used to." With qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament firmly in his sights, Praggnanandhaa's calendar is packed. 'This year is all about qualifying for the Candidates Tournament next year," he says. Upcoming events include the UzChess Cup in Tashkent, the Grand Chess Tour Rapid in Croatia, and the Freestyle tournament in Las Vegas—all in quick succession. 'It's a very tight schedule." Chennai's Chess Factory: Anand's Legacy and Local Competition Amidst this whirlwind, Praggnanandhaa remains both a product and a symbol of India's astonishing chess boom. 'First and foremost is Anand Sir. Without him, chess wouldn't be as big in India," he says with gratitude. 'I started playing when he was world champion, and he's always been someone I look up to." Now, having the opportunity to occasionally discuss chess directly with Anand is, for Praggnanandhaa, 'a great learning experience." India's chess ecosystem, once nascent, is now flourishing thanks to a combination of factors: frequent domestic tournaments, a wealth of academies and coaches, and strong intra-country competition. 'The competition within India itself is very strong, which prepares players well for international events," he explains. 'We have so many underrated players that even foreigners who come to play in Indian open tournaments often find it tough." Financial backing has also played a crucial role in supporting India's young grandmasters. For Praggnanandhaa, corporate support has been game-changing. 'The biggest help is that I can train with more people and have my seconds travel with me to tournaments," he says, crediting Adani [Sportsline] Group for enabling him to set up a professional team. 'All these things—training camps, seconds, and travel—are more expensive than people realize. Having a sponsor like Adani Group takes care of these aspects so I can fully focus on improving my game." Chennai, often dubbed the 'chess capital of India," continues to produce top-level players, and Praggnanandhaa offers a personal anecdote that illustrates how local heroes can inspire the next generation. 'In 2012, when Anand Sir won the world championship match against Gelfand, my school took me to the airport to welcome him. That moment inspired me a lot. Within a month of meeting him, I won the Asian U9 Championship." Family Ties: Crucial Parental and Sibling Support Family too, has been his anchor. His sister Vaishali is herself an accomplished chess player, and the two often exchange ideas despite their busy, often overlapping schedules. 'While I was playing in Armenia, my sister was playing in Norway, but we still managed to talk and share ideas whenever possible," he says with a smile. 'Of course, sometimes I steal her ideas and vice versa." Behind the scenes, the support of his parents remains foundational. 'Their support is everything. Without them, it wouldn't be possible for me to be here," he says. His mother travels with him to tournaments while his father manages things at home. 'Even when I'm away, my parents call me every day to check on me. They've always been there for me," he adds. About the Author Vineet Ramakrishnan Vineet R, an accomplished sports journalist with over 13 years of experience in digital media, currently serves as the Associate Editor - Sports at CricketNext and News18 Sports. With a specialization in More News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Chess India Magnus Carlsen R Praggnanandhaa Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 12, 2025, 12:38 IST News sports R Praggnanandhaa EXCLUSIVE | 'Magnus Carlsen Is Still a Level Above, But We're Closing In'
