R Praggnanandhaa is an 18-year-old chess grandmaster from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He’s ranked 13th in the world and holds the second position in India. In 2018, he became the second-youngest Grand Master. Then, in 2022, he received the Arjuna Award, which is one of India’s top honors for sports.
Achievements
- Praggnanandhaa was honored as the Rising Sportstar of the Year at the 2023 CNN-News18 Indian of the Year Awards. In 2023.
- Praggnanandhaa did something amazing in chess, becoming the youngest player ever to reach the World Cup final and winning silver at the 2023 FIDE World Cup. This also helped him get to the candidates in 2024.
- Pragnanandhaa’s early successes include winning the World Youth Championships in the under-8 category (2013), under-10 category (2015), and under-18 category (2019), all before turning 14!
- At the age of 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days, He attained the GM title, making him the second-youngest ever in 2022.
- Praggnanandhaa did something big by beating famous player Magnus Carlsen in an Airthings Masters tournament.
- Praggnanandhaa got a special award in 2022 called the Arjuna Award.
- Also in 2022, He won the Asian Championships in chess.
Sibling Grandmasters Make History
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and his older sister, Vaishali Rameshbabu, have achieved something remarkable as the first-ever siblings to become Grandmasters. Vaishali Rameshbabu, making history herself, is now the third female grandmaster from India and the country’s 84th GM, following Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. What’s even more special is that they are the first brother-sister pair to qualify for the prestigious Candidates Tournament.
Their journey is full of successes, earning them matching medals in various competitions. They secured double bronze in the Olympics and double silver in the Asian Games, showcasing their impressive excellence on the global stage.
R praggnanandhaa’s Coach
RB Ramesh, the coach of chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, has recently been honored with the prestigious Dronacharya Award, a recognition reserved for outstanding mentors in sports. He started coaching His and Vaishali about ten years ago.
Selected for Candidates 2024
Praggnanandhaa has qualified for the prestigious Candidates Tournament in Toronto, scheduled for April 2–25, 2024. The winner of the candidates will go on to challenge China’s Ding Liren for the world chess championship. Vaishali also secured her spot at the candidate tournament. That makes them the first-ever brother-sister duo to make the Candidates Tournament.
Sponsored By Adani Group
When someone reaches a high level like He has, getting better needs a lot of planning and money. He is preparing for Candidate’s tournament and building a team of trainers; he needs more money. The Adani Group has decided to help him for a long time by sponsoring him. Gautam Adani, who started the Adani Group, talked about his commitment to supporting Pragg. He thinks Praggnanandhaa’s success is inspiring for young people in India. The main goal of this support is to help Praggnanandhaa become the World Chess Champion.
Praggnanandhaa’s social media presence
Praggnanandhaa currently oversees an Instagram account, pragg_chess, which has 575K followers and 75 posts. In his social media journey, He has successfully connected with a diverse audience, engaging them with his passion for chess and providing a glimpse into his world both on and off the chessboard. As he continues to share captivating content, his Instagram account is a testament to his influence and the widespread appreciation for his contributions to the chess community.
Conclusion
R. Praggnanandhaa’s remarkable journey in the world of chess is marked by numerous achievements, including being one of the youngest Grand Masters, winning prestigious awards, and making history at the World Cup. Supported by the Adani Group, Praggnanandhaa is diligently preparing for the tournament with the ultimate goal of becoming the World Chess Champion.
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