19-year-old chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa has become the new India No. 1 in live chess rankings, surpassing D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi. Praggnanandhaa’s impressive victory at the UzChess Cup Masters propelled him to the top spot, with an Elo rating of 2778.3, ranking him fourth in the world.
Viswanathan Anand Congratulates Praggnanandhaa
Five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand took to social media to congratulate Praggnanandhaa on his achievement. Anand praised Praggnanandhaa’s remarkable win, saying it was his third major classical victory this year. He highlighted Praggnanandhaa’s victories over Arjun Erigaisi and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, which helped him secure the top spot.
Praggnanandhaa’s Response
Praggnanandhaa expressed his gratitude to Anand, saying, “This one felt special, it means a lot coming from you. Grateful always for your support and inspiration!” Praggnanandhaa’s humility and appreciation for Anand’s words underscore the respect he has for his chess idol.
Current Rankings
In the live classical chess rankings, Magnus Carlsen retains the top spot with an Elo rating of 2839.2. Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana follow closely, ranked second and third, respectively. Meanwhile, Viswanathan Anand is ranked 13th globally and fourth in India, with an Elo rating of 2743. Aravindh Chithambaram is the India No. 5, with an Elo rating of 2724.0.
Global Chess Standings
The current top 5 in the live classical chess rankings are:
- Magnus Carlsen (2839.2)
- Hikaru Nakamura (2807)
- Fabiano Caruana (2784.2)
- R Praggnanandhaa (2778.3)
- D Gukesh (2776.6)
Praggnanandhaa’s achievement marks a significant milestone in Indian chess, and fans eagerly await his future performances.
