Praggnanandhaa’s Bold Play, Opening Variety and Grit Behind Rise to India’s No. 1

 Praggnanandhaa’s Bold Play, Opening Variety and Grit Behind Rise to India’s No. 1: Coach R.B. Ramesh

Tashkent/New Delhi – R. Praggnanandhaa’s coach, R.B. Ramesh, believes a bold shift in playing style and greater opening variety were key ingredients in the young Grandmaster’s remarkable run of form in 2025—culminating in a sensational win at the 2nd UzChess Cup in Tashkent and a climb to the top of the Indian chess rankings.

The 18-year-old's victory wasn’t just another trophy on the shelf—it pushed him ahead in one of the most competitive rivalries in Indian sport right now: the race to be India’s No. 1 chess player, overtaking contemporaries like Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Aravindh Chithambaram. That coveted position doesn’t just come with bragging rights; it opens doors to elite global tournaments and prestigious invitations.

Speaking after the win, coach Ramesh described 2025 as a turning point in Praggnanandhaa’s career. “He’s taken more risks, added more depth and variety to his openings, and really come into his own,” said Ramesh. “This is a kind of second emergence—he’s no longer just the prodigy from India, but a mature force who’s stepping out of the shadows.”

The Tashkent triumph didn’t come easy. The UzChess Cup featured a stacked field, including world-class talents like Ian Nepomniachtchi, Richard Rapport, and Parham Maghsoodloo, along with India’s own stars and Uzbekistan’s formidable young squad—Abdusattorov, Sindarov, Yakubboev, and Vokhidov.

After nine rounds of classical chess, Praggnanandhaa found himself in a deadlock with Uzbek players Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov—each scoring 5.5 points. The pressure was on.

Despite suffering back-to-back mid-tournament losses to Maghsoodloo and Rapport (the latter being hailed as a contender for game of the year), Pragg showed remarkable resilience. In the final round, playing with the black pieces against Abdusattorov, he delivered a clinical 49-move win to force a three-way playoff.

The title was then decided through chaotic blitz tiebreakers, with each player facing the other two in a series of six games at lightning speed—just three minutes per player on the clock. In the high-stakes frenzy, it was Pragg who kept his cool and emerged victorious.

His win not only sealed the UzChess title but signaled a defining moment in his career—one that may well be remembered as the start of his dominance at the top of Indian chess.