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

He says he’s been more ambitious this year than previous ones. And then he credits his contemporaries, world champion Gukesh Dommaraju and Arjun Erigiasi, for inspiring him with their own exploits last year.

“I’m more ambitious this year. I want to win tournaments when I’m playing. And I’m able to do it. Besides this there is no one specific reason. These results are also a result of the hard work that I’ve been putting in for years. I think that also showed,” Praggnanandhaa told a select group of journalists on the sidelines of the Global Chess League in Mumbai, where he’s representing the Alpine SG Pipers.

Ahead of the third edition of GCL in Mumbai, Pragg was in Dharavi as the chief guest at the Dharavi Chess Championship on Friday. (FIDE/MichalWalusza)

Ask him how that ambition developed and Praggnanandhaa replied: “I didn’t have a great year in 2024. So, I wanted to improve on my results this year and also seeing Gukesh winning the World Chess Championship or Arjun getting to 2800 rating certainly inspired me to push myself in critical moments this year.”

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He admitted that initially, for a brief period, there was some pressure on him when the other two members of India’s golden trio started doing well.

“Maybe at some point earlier on but now I think I’m mature enough that I can see it as an inspiration more than anything else,” said Praggnanandhaa.

He also chalks his results down to small improvements that piled up into big results.

“(Did not change) anything major but made just small improvements that eventually you know, turn into a big thing. But the biggest thing was trying to be more ambitious, more confident when I’m playing, trying to aim for tournament victories more than anything else,” Praggnanandhaa added.

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Just like Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa also played in his first Candidates last time around in Toronto in 2024. While Gukesh won the whole thing to earn a shot at the world champion’s crown, Pragg returned with plenty of experience of the pressure that a Candidates brings along.

Ask him how he’s a different person from the last Candidates to the one he will compete at next year in Cyprus, and he said: “I’m more experienced. I think I’m stronger than two years back for sure. Since I have won a few top events, I think I believe that I can do it again. That gives me more confidence.”