R Praggnanandhaa, the 18-year-old chess prodigy, is a source of immense pride for India, a country with a population exceeding a billion. His remarkable journey has led him to the finals of the 2023 FIDE World Cup, where he faced off against Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen in a tiebreaker held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on August 24.
In India, Praggnanandhaa has made history as the youngest Indian ever to reach the finals of the chess world cup, joining the ranks of legendary Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand. Although rankings cannot fully encapsulate the brilliance of these two players, it’s noteworthy that Magnus Carlsen, at 32 years old, holds the title of World No. 1, while the young Praggnanandhaa is ranked World No. 29. This ranking differential highlights Praggnanandhaa’s exceptional talent, as he defeated several opponents with significantly higher rankings on his path to the tournament finals. Notable among them are World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura and World No. 3 Fabio Caruana, both from the United States. It’s worth mentioning that Magnus Carlsen achieved the status of Grandmaster before Praggnanandhaa was even born and has held the World No. 1 ranking in the FIDE charts since 2011. His reign is the second-longest unbroken streak in the history of chess, trailing only behind the retired Russian legend Garry Kasparov. Before the decisive tie-breaker, Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen engaged in two classical games, both of which ended in draws. The victor in the tie-breaker would be crowned the champion, with the added incentive of claiming a prize purse of USD 110,000.
R Praggnanandhaa, born on August 10, 2005, hails from Padi, a township in west Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His father, K Rameshbabu, works as a bank manager, while his mother, Nagalakshmi, is a homemaker. Nagalakshmi is widely admired in India for her unwavering support of her exceptionally talented son and frequently accompanies him to his tournaments.
Praggnanandhaa’s initial inspiration for chess came from his elder sister, Rameshbabu Vaishali, who is 22 years old and holds FIDE titles of International Master and Woman Grandmaster. Vaishali was introduced to chess by her parents as a way to divert her attention from watching television cartoons. Praggnanandhaa quickly developed an interest in his sister’s game and displayed remarkable talent. K Rameshbabu, who is affected by polio, expressed his joy at his children’s success, highlighting his wife’s immense support and dedication in accompanying them to tournaments and providing exceptional care.
Praggnanandhaa’s chess journey has taken him to over 30 countries. His coach is Grandmaster R.B. Ramesh, who has praised Praggnanandhaa’s exceptional memory and analytical abilities in reviewing his games.
Viswanathan Anand, India’s first Grandmaster and a five-time world champion, serves as a major source of inspiration for Praggnanandhaa. In December 2022, the Indian government recognized Praggnanandhaa’s extraordinary achievements in chess by awarding him the Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest sporting honor. This distinction made Praggnanandhaa the third-youngest recipient of the award, following swimmer Kutraleeswaran Ramesh, who received it at age 14, and Viswanathan Anand, who was honored at age 15.
