Pride Players
R Praggnanandhaa
Chess Prodigy and Grandmaster
DOB: August 10, 2005
Hometown: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Title Grandmaster (2018)
Peak Rating: 2758 (March 2025)
R. Praggnanandhaa, often referred to as "Pragg," was born into a Tamil-speaking family in Chennai. His father, Rameshbabu, works as a branch manager at TNSC Bank, and his mother, Nagalakshmi, is a homemaker who frequently accompanies him to tournaments. Pragg's older sister, Vaishali, is also a chess grandmaster, making them the first brother-sister duo to achieve this title.
Apart from chess, Pragg enjoys playing table tennis and watching cricket. His dedication to chess and his impressive achievements at such a young age have made him a role model for aspiring chess players worldwide.
World Youth Chess Championships: Pragg won the Under-8 title in 2013 and the Under-10 title in 2015, earning the title of FIDE Master.
Youngest International Master: In 2016, he became the youngest international master in history at the age of 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days.
Grandmaster Title: Achieved his grandmaster title in 2018 at the age of 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days, making him the then second-youngest person to do so.
Tata Steel Masters 2025: Won the prestigious Tata Steel Masters, becoming the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand in 2006 to claim the title.
Chess World Cup 2023: Finished as the runner-up, showcasing his exceptional talent on the global stage.
Asian Games 2022: Part of the Indian team that won the silver medal in the men's team competition.
45th Chess Olympiad 2024: Contributed to India's gold medal win in the open section.