R Praggnanandhaa becomes new India No. 1, D Gukesh second in latest live rankings

By Admin

28 Jun, 2025

In a monumental achievement for Indian chess, 19-year-old Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has become the new India No. 1 in the live classical chess rankings, following his emphatic title win at the UzChess Cup Masters. With an Elo rating of 2778.3, Praggnanandhaa now stands 4th in the world, surpassing compatriot and recent Candidates winner D Gukesh, who is now ranked 5th with a rating of 2776.6.

Rising to the Top with Grit

Praggnanandhaa's final-round victory over Uzbek GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, using the Black pieces, sealed his triumph in the UzChess Cup and catapulted him to the summit of Indian chess. What makes this victory even more remarkable is the turnaround in the final stages of the tournament. As legendary GM Viswanathan Anand noted on X, “Of all his wins this year, this one seemed the least likely with just two rounds to go.” Praising Pragg’s resilience, Anand added, “He defeated Arjun Erigaisi and then Abdusattorov to tie for first place… he won his third tiebreak of the year as well. He is deservedly the new number four in the chess world.”

Changing Gears in 2024

Praggnanandhaa’s longtime coach, RB Ramesh, shared insights into the young prodigy’s recent form. “Pragg is quite good in attack, but he was playing too solid in 2024. We discussed being more adventurous, and you can see that now.” This strategic shift, combined with increased variety in openings, has paid dividends.

Another key to Pragg’s success has been the support system around him. Ramesh acknowledged the quiet yet critical role of Vaibhav Suri, who has been working as Pragg’s second for a while. “It’s good to have someone you know well, who believes in you, travel with you during important tournaments. When you are going through difficult times, it’s easier to believe in ourselves.”

The Indian Chess Landscape

With this reshuffle, Arjun Erigaisi follows closely at sixth place globally (2775.7), reinforcing India's growing dominance in world chess. Meanwhile, the legendary Viswanathan Anand now holds the 13th spot globally (2743.0), becoming India No. 4, and Aravindh Chithambaram ranks 24th in the world (2724.0), rounding off India’s top five.

At the very top, Norwegian maestro Magnus Carlsen continues to reign supreme with an Elo of 2839.2, followed by Americans Hikaru Nakamura (2807) and Fabiano Caruana (2784.2).

A Bright Future

Praggnanandhaa’s elevation to India’s No. 1 is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the nation’s rapidly rising presence in the global chess arena. With a strong foundation, a supportive team, and fierce determination, the teenager is well-poised to challenge the very top in the coming years.