Praggnanandhaa: This is likely one of the finest phases of my profession

The newest occupant of the recent seat is R. Praggnanandhaa, who’s ranked World No. 4 within the newest FIDE score listing launched by FIDE on Tuesday. Arjun Erigaisi and D. Gukesh are positioned No. 5 and 6, respectively.

The 19-year-old from Chennai isn’t involved a lot in regards to the rating. He is fairly comfortable, although, with the type of chess he has been enjoying over the previous few months. He has received three vital titles, together with the celebrated Wijk aan Zee (Tata Steel) this yr.

“Winning Wijk aan Zee meant lots to me as it’s an 87-year-old match, which was received up to now by a number of World champions,” Praggnanandhaa informed The Hindu over telephone from Zagreb, the place he could be enjoying the third leg of the Grand Chess Tour. “It was additionally good successful the Superbet Chess Classic in Romania and the UzChess Cup in Tashkent simply a few days in the past.”

He admits this has been among the best phases of his profession. “I’ve tried to alter a number of issues about my chess, which has labored,” he stated. “I’m rather more assured, and I push myself in these crucial video games.”

Praggnanandhaa is glad that the younger Indians, aside from the highest three, have been doing nicely of late. “Aravindh Chithambaram is enjoying nice chess,” he stated. “And Nihal Sarin has had good ends in the classical codecs of late. Our achievements, like Gukesh’s World title and Arujun breaking the 2800 Elo barrier, encourage one another.”

He is wanting ahead to the Esports World Cup, by which he’ll play for Team Liquid, alongside World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. “It is good that chess is changing into a part of Esports,” he stated.