Thiruvananthapuram: Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has emerged as Bharat’s new number one chess player, overtaking the legendary Viswanathan Anand. The young chess prodigy secured this position by narrowly defeating world champion Ding Liren of China in the Tata Steel Masters tournament, marking the first international chess event of 2024.
Praggnanandhaa’s journey in the tournament saw him facing the world champion in the fourth round, where he showcased his prowess and clinched victory. This triumph propelled the teenage sensation to surpass Anand in the FIDE rating, claiming the top rank with a rating of 2748.3.
Notably, R. Praggnanandhaa is now the second player to achieve victory over the experienced Liren in classical chess. Despite facing a tie in the initial rounds, the 18-year-old displayed composure and strategic brilliance, ultimately securing a significant win in the fourth round with black pieces.
Prominent personalities such as Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Adani, among others, have conveyed their best wishes to the Grandmaster.
Big cheers to @rpraggnachess for this remarkable triumph against World Champion, Ding Liren. At the young age of 18, you haven’t just dominated the game but also risen to become India's top-rated player.
Best wishes for your upcoming challenges. Continue to bring glory to India… pic.twitter.com/W7NAqSYnDX— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 17, 2024
Discussion about this post