A young Indian chess player, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, made history by reaching the finals of the FIDE World Cup. This was a big moment for India. He became the youngest player ever to reach the finals of this major chess event. At just 18 years old, he showed the world his amazing talent. Praggnanandhaa, often called "Pragg," is a chess grandmaster from Chennai, India. His story is inspiring. It shows how hard work, family support, and love for chess can create a champion.
Early Life And Family Background
Pragg was born on August 10, 2005, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He grew up in a simple Tamil-speaking family. His father, Rameshbabu, works as a bank manager at TNSC Bank. His mother, Nagalakshmi, is a homemaker. She travels with Pragg to many tournaments. Pragg has an elder sister named Vaishali. She is also a chess player. In fact, Vaishali is a Woman Grandmaster and International Master. The brother and sister are the first siblings to both become grandmasters. This is a rare and special achievement. Their family is proud of their success.
Pragg’s love for chess started early. He was only three and a half years old when he began playing. His sister Vaishali inspired him. She was already learning chess. Their parents wanted Vaishali to spend less time watching TV. So, they introduced her to chess. Pragg watched her play and got curious. Soon, he started playing too. He showed great talent from a young age. His parents saw his passion. They supported him, even though they faced money problems. Pragg’s mother played a big role. She took him to tournaments and cheered him on.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Net Worth, Education, Sister
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa |
| Date of Birth | August 10, 2005 |
| Place of Birth | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Family | Father: Rameshbabu (Bank Manager) Mother: Nagalakshmi (Homemaker) Sister: Vaishali (Woman Grandmaster) |
| Started Playing Chess | At age 3.5, inspired by sister Vaishali |
| First Major Achievement | Won World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 in 2013 (FIDE Master title) |
| Youngest International Master | At age 10 years, 10 months, 19 days in 2016 |
| Youngest Grandmaster | At age 12 years, 10 months, 13 days in 2018 (Second youngest ever) |
| Coach | RB Ramesh (Former chess champion, runs Chess Gurukul in Chennai) |
| Major Wins | - World Youth Chess Championship Under-10 (2015) - World Youth Chess Championship Under-18 (2019) - Gold medal at 45th Chess Olympiad (2024) - Tata Steel Chess Tournament (2025) |
| Notable Opponents Defeated | Magnus Carlsen (2022, Airthings Masters, Chessable Masters, FTX Crypto Cup) Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana (2023 Chess World Cup) |
| Chess World Cup 2023 | Reached final on August 24, 2023, youngest ever; lost to Magnus Carlsen in tie-break |
| Chess Rating (2023) | 2727 (Ranked 29th in the world) |
| Other Achievements | - Second-youngest to reach 2600 rating (2019) - Qualified for 2024 Candidates Tournament - Joined Team Liquid esports club (June 2025) |
| Awards | Arjuna Award (2022) |
| Hobbies | Playing table tennis, watching cricket |
| Education | Studies at Velammal Main Campus, Chennai |
| Languages Spoken | Tamil, English, some Russian |
| Role Model | Viswanathan Anand (India’s first chess Grandmaster) |
| Personality Traits | Humble, kind, disciplined; donated prize money for school for poor children |
| Family Support | Mother travels with him; father supports but avoids chess decisions; sister Vaishali trains with him |
World Youth Chess Championship
When Pragg was just seven, he won the World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 title in 2013. This win gave him the title of FIDE Master. He was the youngest to achieve this. Two years later, in 2015, he won the Under-10 title. His skills kept growing. In 2016, at the age of 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days, he became the youngest International Master ever. This was a huge record. People started calling him a chess prodigy. A prodigy is someone very young who does something extraordinary. Pragg was proving he was special.
In 2018, Pragg made another big leap. He became a Grandmaster at just 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days old. This made him the second-youngest Grandmaster in the world at that time. Only Sergey Karjakin was younger when he earned the title. Pragg achieved this by winning his third Grandmaster norm at the Gredine Open in Italy. He beat a strong player named Luca Moroni. This win showed Pragg’s ability to compete with top players. His coach, RB Ramesh, helped him a lot. RB Ramesh is a former chess champion. He runs a chess school called Chess Gurukul in Chennai.
Pragg’s journey was not always easy. His family did not have much money. They struggled to pay for chess coaching and travel. But Pragg never gave up. He practiced for 4 to 6 hours every day. He studied famous chess players’ games. His role model is Viswanathan Anand, India’s first chess Grandmaster. Anand has praised Pragg’s skills. He said Pragg plays smart in the middle of the game and stays calm in tough moments. This praise from a chess legend motivated Pragg even more.
In 2019, Pragg won the World Youth Chess Championship in the Under-18 section. He was only 14 years old. This showed he could beat players older than him. That same year, he reached a chess rating of 2600. He was the second-youngest person to do this. A chess rating shows how strong a player is. Pragg’s rating kept climbing. By 2023, his rating was 2727, and he was ranked 29th in the world. For an 18-year-old, this was a huge achievement.
One of Pragg’s biggest moments came in 2022. He beat the world’s number one player, Magnus Carlsen, in an online rapid chess tournament called Airthings Masters. Pragg was only 16. This made him the youngest player to beat Carlsen since Carlsen became world champion. Pragg beat Carlsen again in other tournaments, like the Chessable Masters and FTX Crypto Cup. These wins shocked the chess world. Carlsen is one of the greatest players ever. Beating him proved Pragg’s talent.
In 2023, Pragg reached the Chess World Cup final. He defeated strong players like Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana. These players are ranked much higher than him. In the final, he faced Magnus Carlsen again. The two played two classical games, and both ended in draws. In the tie-break, Carlsen won. Pragg got second place, but his performance was amazing. He became the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to reach the World Cup final. This also earned him a spot in the 2024 Candidates Tournament. This tournament decides who will challenge for the world chess title.
Pragg’s success is not just about chess. He is a humble and kind person. He donated prize money to help build a school for poor children. He speaks Tamil, English, and some Russian. Besides chess, he loves playing table tennis and watching cricket. He studies at Velammal Main Campus in Chennai. Even with his busy chess schedule, he balances school and sports. This shows his discipline and hard work.
Family Details
Pragg’s family is his biggest strength. His mother, Nagalakshmi, is always by his side. She travels with him to tournaments around the world. His father, Rameshbabu, is proud but stays out of his chess decisions. He tells Pragg to eat well and stay healthy. Pragg’s sister, Vaishali, is his friend and rival. They train together but don’t play against each other. Their parents don’t want them to compete. Instead, they support each other’s dreams.
In 2024, Pragg won a gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad with the Indian team. This was a proud moment for India. In 2025, he won the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. He was the first Indian to win it since Viswanathan Anand in 2006. Pragg beat another Indian prodigy, Gukesh D, in a playoff. This victory showed that Pragg is among the best in the world. He also joined an esports club called Team Liquid in June 2025. This was a new step in his career.
Lesson
Pragg’s story is a lesson for everyone. He started with little money but big dreams. His family believed in him. His hard work and talent took him far. He faced challenges but stayed focused. His coach, RB Ramesh, taught him to think clearly and play smart. Pragg’s success shows that age doesn’t matter. If you work hard, you can achieve great things.
Today, Pragg is a hero in India. People like Sachin Tendulkar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have praised him. He has won awards like the Arjuna Award in 2022. This is one of India’s top sports honors. Pragg is still young, but his future is bright. He wants to become the world chess champion one day. With his skills and determination, he might just do it.
Praggnanandhaa’s journey is like a chess game. Each move is careful and smart. He plans ahead and stays calm. His story inspires young people to follow their dreams. Whether it’s chess or something else, Pragg shows that hard work and passion can lead to success. India is proud of its young chess star. The world is watching him. Pragg is not just playing chess; he is creating history.