New Delhi: India’s teenage chess sensation Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has become the country’s highest-ranked player following his remarkable victory at the UzChess Cup Masters in Croatia. The 19-year-old grandmaster, however, remains unfazed by the new milestone, saying he prefers to focus on performance rather than numbers.
Praggnanandhaa sealed the title with a brilliant win over home favourite Nodirbek Abdusattorov, playing with the Black pieces on the final day. The victory pushed his live FIDE rating to 2778.3, narrowly edging past World Championship runner-up D Gukesh (2776.6) and former No.1 Arjun Erigaisi (2775.7). In the global standings, Praggnanandhaa now sits 4th in the world, trailing only Magnus Carlsen (2839.2), Hikaru Nakamura (2807.0), and Fabiano Caruana (2784.2). Gukesh, following the latest changes, is ranked fifth.
Reacting to his rise in rankings, Praggnanandhaa played it down, saying such fluctuations are part of the game. “I became India’s number one because of one point. So I don’t think it really matters. These one or two points can go either way in one game. For me, winning the tournament was much more special,” he told ANI. “I take one tournament at a time and don’t pay much attention to rating changes.”
His humility and consistent focus on improvement have earned him accolades from chess greats, including World No.1 Magnus Carlsen and World No.2 Hikaru Nakamura, who both praised him following his selection by Team Liquid for the Esports World Cup 2025, set to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Asked about the compliments from two of the biggest names in world chess, Praggnanandhaa responded modestly: “It feels good, but I don’t think it will impact me in any way. I’ll just continue doing what I’ve been doing. But yes, it’s always nice to hear such words. It inspires me to do better and gives me confidence.”
The young grandmaster also expressed gratitude for the backing he has received from Adani Sportsline, a partnership that has supported his growth significantly over the past year. “I’ve been supported by the Adani Group for the last year. As chess players, we need to travel and train extensively, and these things can be expensive. For the Candidates Tournament, I had a team and in-person camps. Adani’s support made that possible,” he explained.
“What stood out was that they supported me even when I wasn’t doing well. Their belief during my losses helped me push myself harder. I’m genuinely grateful to them, and it’s encouraging to see major corporates backing the sport. It’s a positive sign for the future of chess in India.”
With calm confidence and mature perspective well beyond his age, Praggnanandhaa’s journey continues to inspire India’s chess community and sports lovers alike. As he sets his sights on future tournaments, one thing is certain—he’s here not just to top the rankings but to redefine Indian chess for a new generation.
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