Praggnanandhaa's Rise to Top Junior Sparks Witty Reaction from Grandmaster Anish Giri

Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, known for his sharp wit, stirred the chess community with a playful reaction to R Praggnanandhaa's ascent to the World No.1 junior ranking.

Praggnanandhaa and Giri: A glimpse into the present and future of chess.

Giri, currently ranked world no. 10 with a live rating of 2748.0, quipped, "Chess juniors nowadays have to be at least U16, keeping track of U20 players is totally pointless." This humorous observation highlights the exceptional talent emerging at a young age, challenging seasoned players in the senior ranks.

The remark followed Praggnanandhaa's impressive victory at the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 in Uzbekistan. This win propelled the 19-year-old to a live rating of 2778.3, making him World No.4 overall and, notably, India’s highest-rated chess player.

This achievement saw him surpass World Champion D Gukesh (2776.6) and Arjun Erigaisi (2775.7), signaling a shift in the Indian chess landscape.

Praggnanandhaa's path to victory was filled with suspense. Entering the final day trailing behind Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov, he secured a critical win against Abdusattorov in the last classical round, forcing a three-way tie.

Displaying remarkable composure, Praggnanandhaa triumphed in the blitz tiebreaks, ultimately winning the tournament in the second set of rapid games – marking his third major classical title this year.

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand lauded the young player, stating, "This win seemed the least likely with just two rounds to go… An impressive demonstration of character."

With the UzChess Cup victory, Praggnanandhaa adds to his impressive 2025 record, which includes wins at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament and the Superbet Classic in Romania. He also recently secured a runner-up position at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial.

While Giri’s comment adds a touch of humor, Praggnanandhaa's stellar performance underscores a crucial point: the future of world chess is already making its mark, particularly in India.