Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, at the remarkably young age of 19, has ascended to the position of India`s top classical chess player. This follows a dominant performance in the first half of 2025, capped by his third major title win of the year at the UzChess Cup. While it feels slightly odd to speak of a “resurgence” for someone so young, the transformation in his results compared to late 2024 has been undeniable.
At the close of the previous year, Praggnanandhaa openly expressed dissatisfaction with his game`s quality, acknowledging a dip in form during the latter half of 2024. He committed to working with his team, led by coach RB Ramesh, to address these issues and improve. The results in 2025 – victories at the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Masters, the Superbet Chess Classic, and now the UzChess Cup – demonstrate that this focused effort has paid significant dividends. Praggnanandhaa is not only back on top form but appears to be continually sharpening his game.
Interestingly, when asked about the technical aspects of his chess, Praggnanandhaa suggests he hasn`t made radical changes to his fundamental approach on the board. The crucial difference, he reveals, lies in his mental game. This shift involves a renewed and intensified desire to fight for wins in every game, a refusal to give up even when positions are difficult, and a persistent drive throughout demanding tournaments. This mental fortitude has seemingly unlocked a new level of performance.
The UzChess Cup provides a compelling narrative illustrating this newfound resilience. With only two rounds remaining, Praggnanandhaa trailed the leader, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, by a substantial 1.5 points. His path to potential victory involved facing two of the toughest competitors in the field: Arjun Erigaisi and Abdusattorov himself. Despite the daunting challenge, Praggnanandhaa focused simply on playing his best chess in the penultimate round against Erigaisi. He secured a crucial win with the black pieces. Fortuitously, other results aligned favorably, creating an improbable scenario where a win against Abdusattorov in the final round, coupled with another specific result, could lead to a tie for first. Praggnanandhaa delivered under pressure, beating Abdusattorov, and subsequently won the ensuing tie-break, snatching victory from what seemed like an unlikely position.
This year has also showcased Praggnanandhaa`s exceptional ability in tie-breaks, particularly in faster time controls. His victories in the Tata Steel Masters tie-break against the reigning world champion, Gukesh Dommaraju, and the Superbet Classic tie-break against Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave are testament to this. He attributes this tie-break prowess partly to his mental preparedness for a “fight,” while also acknowledging that a degree of luck inevitably plays a role in the unpredictable nature of rapid play, especially in positions where he had to recover from difficulties, as seen in the UzChess Cup tie-breaks.
While the India No. 1 ranking is a notable achievement, Praggnanandhaa maintains a pragmatic perspective, observing that such rankings can fluctuate rapidly with just a single game result, given the narrow rating margins between the top Indian players. His focus remains on consistent high-level performance rather than fixating solely on the numerical rank.
Looking ahead, Praggnanandhaa currently holds a strong position in the FIDE Circuit 2025 standings. Maintaining this standing could secure him a coveted spot in the 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament. However, he isn`t leaving qualification to chance. Significant opportunities for direct entry arise later in the year at major events like the FIDE Grand Swiss and the FIDE World Cup (where he was the runner-up in 2023). Praggnanandhaa is clearly positioning himself to contend seriously in these crucial tournaments.
His immediate schedule is packed, a reality he notes with perhaps a touch of weariness and irony (“I would like some rest, but it doesn`t look like I am going to get it”). Upcoming events include a Grand Chess Tour stop in Croatia, the prestigious Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, and participation in a Freestyle Chess event and the eSports World Cup. The eSports venture, where he joins Team Liquid alongside chess luminaries like Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, offers a unique experience, provided he navigates the qualifying rounds.
Ultimately, the FIDE Candidates tournament remains the paramount goal. While his current trajectory is promising, the lesson from the past year is clear: consistency and resilience are key. By continuing to leverage the enhanced mental strength that has defined his 2025 season, Praggnanandhaa is not just vying for a spot in the Candidates; he is building the foundation to potentially challenge for the very pinnacle of world chess.
