R Praggnanandhaa Becomes India’s No. 1 Chess Player, Surpasses Gukesh in Global Rankings

June 27, 2025 | Sports Desk, India — A new era in Indian chess has begun. R Praggnanandhaa, the 19-year-old grandmaster from Chennai, has officially become India’s No. 1 ranked chess player after clinching the UzChess Cup Masters title. His latest victory has catapulted him to world No. 4 in the live classical chess ratings.

In the decisive final round of the tournament, Praggnanandhaa defeated Uzbekistan’s GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov with the black pieces—an outcome that not only sealed his title but also elevated his Elo rating to 2778.3, making him the highest-rated Indian player currently in the game.
 

New India No. 1: The Rise of R Praggnanandhaa

This is a landmark moment in Indian chess. For years, Viswanathan Anand held the position of India’s highest-rated player. Now, a new generation is taking charge.

• R Praggnanandhaa – Elo 2778.3 (World No. 4)
• D Gukesh – Elo 2776.6 (World No. 5)
• Arjun Erigaisi – Elo 2775.7 (World No. 6)
• Viswanathan Anand – Elo 2743.0 (World No. 13)
• Aravindh Chithambaram – Elo 2724.0 (World No. 24)

Praggnanandhaa’s incredible performances in 2025, especially in high-pressure tiebreaks, show that his talent is now matched with maturity and consistency.

 

From Underdog to Champion

Legendary Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, who has mentored and inspired countless Indian players, praised Praggnanandhaa on X (formerly Twitter):

“Of all his wins this year, this one seemed the least likely with just two rounds to go. However, he defeated Arjun Erigaisi and today, in the crucial match, Nodirbek Abdusattorov. He is deservedly the new number four in the chess world and the highest rated player in India.”

Anand highlighted Pragg’s courage in tough situations, noting that this was his third tiebreak win of the year, a clear sign of growth in competitive resilience.

 

Tactical Shift: The Turning Point in Pragg’s 2025 Strategy

RB Ramesh, Praggnanandhaa’s longtime coach, told The Indian Express that his student had become more “solid” in his style in early 2024—but they recently decided to switch gears.

“Pragg is quite good in attack, but he was playing too solid in 2024. We discussed this and talked about being more adventurous, which you can see now,” said Ramesh.

This strategic change—embracing bold openings and offensive gameplay—has clearly paid off. From tight middlegames to sharp endgames, Pragg’s new approach has been both fearless and effective.

 

The Quiet Strength Behind the Scenes: Vaibhav Suri’s Support

Another factor contributing to Praggnanandhaa’s recent surge is GM Vaibhav Suri, who has been working as his second—essentially a behind-the-scenes coach or game analyst.

Although his support was kept low-profile earlier, it has now become more public.

“Vaibhav has been helping us longer than this year. But only recently, he has started accompanying Pragg for tournaments,” Ramesh said. “It’s good to have someone you know well, who believes in you, travel with you during important tournaments.”

This support system has helped Praggnanandhaa stay grounded and mentally strong during tense matches.

 

Global Chess Landscape: Pragg Joins the Elite

 

With this leap, Praggnanandhaa now shares elite company at the top of the global chess rankings:

• Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – 2839.2
• Hikaru Nakamura (USA) – 2807
• Fabiano Caruana (USA) – 2784.2
• R Praggnanandhaa (India) – 2778.3
• D Gukesh (India) – 2776.6
• Arjun Erigaisi (India) – 2775.7

India now has three players in the top six globally—a historic moment for the country’s chess scene.

 

What’s Next for Praggnanandhaa?

With the Chess Olympiad, Candidates Tournament, and other major global events on the horizon, all eyes will be on Praggnanandhaa to see how he continues to evolve and dominate. Having already made history as the youngest Indian to defeat Magnus Carlsen in a classical game, Pragg's rise seems unstoppable.

He is not just India’s top player, but now one of the world’s fiercest competitors in classical chess.