Praggnanandhaa Overtakes Rivals, Becomes Top Junior Chess Player; Giri Reacts with Wit

Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, known for his wit, ignited a flurry of reactions in the chess community with his lighthearted comment on R Praggnanandhaa becoming the world's top-ranked junior player.

Giri, currently ranked world no. 10 with a live rating of 2748.0, quipped, "Chess juniors nowadays have to be at least U16, keeping track of U20 players is totally pointless." This remark subtly acknowledged the exceptional talent of young players who are already making significant strides in the senior chess world.

The comment followed Praggnanandhaa's impressive victory at the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 in Uzbekistan. This win propelled the 19-year-old to a live rating of 2778.3, positioning him as World No. 4 overall and India's highest-rated chess player. He surpassed D Gukesh (2776.6) and Arjun Erigaisi (2775.7), marking a shift in the Indian chess landscape.

Praggnanandhaa's path to victory was dramatic. He started the final day trailing Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov, but a crucial win against Abdusattorov in the last classical round forced a three-way tie. In the blitz tiebreaks, he demonstrated remarkable composure, securing the tournament win in the second set of rapid games. This victory marked his third major classical title of the year.

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand praised the young talent, stating, "This win seemed the least likely with just two rounds to go… An impressive demonstration of character.”

The UzChess Cup victory adds to Praggnanandhaa's impressive 2025 achievements, including wins at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament and the Superbet Classic in Romania. He also secured a runner-up position at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial.

While Giri's remark was playful, Praggnanandhaa's recent performance underscores a significant trend: the future of chess is here, and India is at the forefront.