Indian chess grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa will carry countless hopes at the prestigious Candidates Tournament next year. He will be the only Indian in the fray, a spot he secured after winning the FIDE Circuit 2025 earlier this month.
The year 2025, as described by Pragg (name by which he is mostly referred to), "was great" as he eventually achieved the target he had set for himself. He won the Tata Steel Masters, the Superbet Chess Classic Romania, the UzChess Cup Masters, and the all-important London Chess Classic Open, which earned him a ticket to the Candidates.
The ones where he couldn’t achieve the desired results saw him deliver enduring performances. Such as finishing second at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial, 12th at the Sinquefield Cup, and a fourth-round exit at the recent FIDE World Cup.
He is currently taking part in the Global Chess League (GCL) underway in Mumbai, and in an exclusive chat with Moneycontrol, emphasised that all his focus is on the tournament.
"I think it was a great year for me. Overall, I think the main aim was to qualify to the Candidates, which I did. But the last few tournaments haven't gone my way, so I'm trying to get back into shape," he said, reflecting on his performance this year.
"In 2026, Candidates is the main event, there's also Wijk aan Zee and other important events, but I think it tops it all. That'll be the focus for next year," he added.
Also Read | Navigating the transition from player to coach: Hockey legend Sardar Singh reflects on his role switch
At GCL, Pragg is part of the Alpine SG Pipers, who also possess Anish Giri and Fabiano Caruana in their ranks. The duo, and Pragg, will be sharing the stage at Candidates next year. "We have a great team, good team bonding, and are trying to give our best. Overall, I'm enjoying a lot, and even though we have like three Candidates in the team, we are not really thinking about it," he maintained.
And while Pragg has emerged as one of the most in demand players, we shouldn't forget he is just 20. But when pointed to the country's chess prodigy, he shrugs it off and says that he is now accustomed to cameras and headlines.
"I think at this point, not just me, but also other Indian players as well are used to it. It's there in every tournament, but by the end of the day, it's about the game, and we're just focused on that. We don't really pay attention to what's happening outside, and just giving our best at the board is all that matters."
Also Read | In four years, how Viswanathan Anand's WACA shaped D Gukesh into the youngest World Chess Champion
However, at the same time, one cannot escape the demanding nature of the game, which involves constant travelling, shuffling between cities and countries. Since the start of October, Pragg has travelled to three continents, starting from Sao Paulo, where he played the finals of the Grand Chess Tour. He then came to the country for the World Cup in Goa and then visited London.
While Pragg does acknowledge the tiring schedule, he knows it cannot be escaped and takes a break whenever he can afford one. "The schedule is hectic for everyone, not just me. I play a lot of other formats as well, but it's difficult for me to find breaks in between. Also to make it to the Candidates and win FIDE Circuit 2025, I had to play a lot of tournaments. So the schedule is packed, but whenever I get time, I'm taking breaks," he said.
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.
