Praggnanandhaa | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The #India No. 1 in chess rating is type of a musical chair now. It exhibits how strongly the younger #Indians have been faring on the highest degree.

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.

I’ve all the time dreamt of successful a GCT occasion, Winning the #Superbet#ChessClassic is certainly dream come true. I’m grateful to my coach, staff, household, and supporters for his or her unwavering perception in me. pic.twitter.com/BmuVt9lgyi

— Praggnanandhaa (@rpraggnachess) May 17, 2025

“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 Uz#Chess 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.”

Before chess conquered the world, it was born in #India.
For centuries, #India has formed the sport. Now, it shapes the longer term.
Praggnanandhaa R. carries that legacy ahead — and at this time, he joins ours.

Welcome to Team Liquid. The way forward for chess begins right here. 💙🇮🇳
Pragg உன்னை… pic.twitter.com/50yLIJgGd3

— Team Liquid (@TeamLiquid) June 28, 2025

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.

Published – July 01, 2025 08:00 pm IST