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PRAGGNANANDHAA NEWS

Magnus Carlsen looks at a chess board. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

Magnus Carlsen ranks Praggnanandhaa as 3rd favourite to win Candidates tournament

December 24, 2025 8:54 pm

Carlsen also explained that besides the two Americans, Nakamura and Caruana, and Pragg, he doesn't think anyone has a real chance of winning the Candidates.

India's R Praggnanandhaa, who represents Alpine SG Piper at the Global Chess League, in action during a GCL 3 game at the Royal Opera House. (PHOTO: GCL)

Praggnanandhaa interview: Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi’s exploits in 2024 inspired me to be more ambitious

December 18, 2025 10:13 pm

At next year's Candidates, Praggnanandhaa will be the only Indian in contention in the open section.

R Praggnandhaa, Anish Giri, and Fabiano Caruana will be fighting it out in the eight-man Candidates tournament from March 28 to April 16. (Picture Credit: GCL)

Teammates at GCL now, Candidates rivals soon: How Praggnanandhaa, Anish Giri, and Fabiano Caruana are co-existing at Alpine SG Pipers

December 18, 2025 9:10 am

Praggnanandhaa, Anish Giri, and Fabiano Caruana talk about the strange dynamic they share as part of Alpine SG Pipers in the GCL, knowing fully well that they will soon be facing off in the Candidates, where only finishing first matters.

SG Alpine Pipers' R Praggnanandhaa, and PBG Alaskan Knights' Arjun Erigaisi and Gukesh during the third season of the Global Chess League. (PHOTOS: GCL)

Why being at home feels like a vacation to D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi

December 17, 2025 9:25 am

A hectic tournament schedule that takes them around the world several times a year provides no time to rest, but they have no complaints. As Gukesh says: "If I don’t push myself at this age, when am I going to push myself?”

Ahead of the third edition of GCL in Mumbai, Pragg was in Dharavi as the chief guest at the Dharavi Chess Championship on Friday. (Express Photo by Deepak Joshi)

Praggnanandhaa on new events popping up in chess: 'Difficult to adjust to each format sometimes, but happy there are new opportunities'

December 13, 2025 12:53 am

R Praggnanandhaa, who recently secured his spot in the Candidates tournament via the FIDE Circuit route, he’s happy that the sport is now giving players so many opportunities to play and become full-time professionals.

Praggnanandhaa secures Candidates spot as last-gasp entry at London Classic’s open section pays off

December 08, 2025 11:32 pm

Praggnanandhaa secured his spot via the FIDE Circuit route which could have been in some peril if he had not played in London, because the other contender for the spot, Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov, had entered the elite event at London Classic.

Praggnanandhaa finished London Chess Classic 2025 Open event as joint-winner. (PHOTO: John Saunders/London Chess Classic)

Praggnanandhaa gets closer to Candidates 2026 qualification after finishing London Chess Classic 2025 Open as joint-winner

December 04, 2025 9:59 pm

Praggnanandhaa earned 8.17 points from London Chess Classic Open event in the FIDE Circuit Leaderboard, extending his lead at the top with a total of 115.17 points from his best seven events as he gets closer to the last Candidates 2026 spot.

India's R. Praggnanandhaa in action against England's Stanley Badacsonyi at London Chess Festival. (PHOTO: X/London Chess)

London Chess Classic: Praggnanandhaa in joint lead in Open event as race for final Candidates spot intensifies

December 01, 2025 9:02 pm

The LCC Open is a 120-player, nine-round Swiss tournament with an average rating of 2581 Elo.

Magnus Carlsen had exited the World Rapid Championships 2024 midway after being told he had violated the FIDE dress code for the event and was asked to change to formal trousers. (PHOTO: Magnus Carlsen X)

One year after jeansgate, Magnus Carlsen says he will be back 'in tighter jeans' at World Rapid and Blitz

November 20, 2025 10:06 pm

World champion Gukesh D will lead a contingent of 41 Indians into the year-ending tournament, which will be held from December 25 to 30. There will be 28 men and 13 women from India competing in Doha, which means that 11 per cent of the field will be Indian.

Arjun Erigaisi and Wei Yi played a quick draw in 31 moves during FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 quarterfinal Classical game. (FIDE/Michal Walusza)

FIDE World Cup: As Arjun Erigaisi and Wei Yi play out a super quick draw, a question — Is classical chess over-theorised?

November 18, 2025 8:33 am

While the draw between Arjun and Wei Yi was anticlimactic, it was hardly surprising. The players followed the tournament's prevailing trend, and their expected line was to minimise risk and play it safe.