In February 2022, he hit the headlines by defeating the five times world champion Magnus Carlsen in the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour’s Airthings Masters tournament. The then-16 year old Praggnanandhaa created history again in August 2022 as he surpassed Carlsen 4-2 in the last round of the FTX Crypto Cup, winning three consecutive games, including two in blitz tie-breaks. Praggnanandhaa is the only Indian to have defeated the formidable Norwegian in a tournament, joining the ranks of Viswanathan Anand & Pentala Harikrishna.
The young man has been ranked second in the world despite being only 17 years old. He has a 5-1 record versus GM Carlsen, the current global chess champion.
The golden practittudes of grandmaster Praggnanandhaa
What does life feel like when you are a chess prodigy? Where to compromise and where to cling on? What habits to nurture and what to let go of? Perhaps taking a look at some of the practices and attitudes of the young champion may inspire every aspiring teenage chess-player-in-the-making to follow suit. Here’s a glimpse:
Academics tags along, no matter what!
Studies and routine chess practice do get along well! Though an active chess-life dotted with tournaments, travel, and practice sessions leave little time for studies, Praggnanandhaa does attend school and is currently a senior. Unable to attend the regular classes, Pragg picks his notes once in three months. The helpful school administration has permitted a flexible schedule for the young GM.
Physical fitness matters:
As his dad confirms, Praggnanandhaa is a huge fan of cycling. While most kids tend to think of playing chess as physically “inactive”, Pragg makes up for it through his love for cycling and occasional table tennis. To be successful at chess, you need to put in serious mental effort and that would mean sitting hours before the board. Such a brain game could prevent one from exercising for long periods of time. Young chess lovers can take the cue from Praggnanandhaa and engage in healthy physical activities.
Praggnanandhaa enjoys cricket and watches the sport in his downtime between chess competitions.
Going junk-less:
Traditional, home-cooked South Indian food is what Praggnanandhaa eats. The young grandmaster watches TV (with his sister GM Vaishali) only while eating. Both the players are very cautious about what they eat, and avoid pizzas or noodles as much as they can.
The house that breathes CHESS:
GM Vaishali, older sister of Praggnanandhaa, also attended the same high school and is currently working for a Bachelor of Commerce degree. She is currently waiting to receive her Grandmaster norm in chess. It's true that the proverb "the family that eats together, stays together" holds true. As the frequent domestic and foreign travel of the siblings leave the family with little time to spend together, they do what they can to keep the ancient rituals alive and the relationships strong. "When they are home, we always eat dinner together; it's the only time we get to sit down and talk," adds Pragg's father.
Supportive Parents:
This simple family spends their time and money making sure that Praggnanandhaa & his sister Vaishali participate in as many competitions as possible, including those held online. "As of right now, I have an inverter set up. And just in case one of the broadband connections doesn't function, there are two more "that's what Rameshbabu says. Neither of the parents is a chess master. Pragg’s father is a branch manager at TNSC Bank, while his mom is a home-maker. The father told PTI that he stays at home to watch his kids’ games while his wife, R Nagalakshmi, travels with them to tournaments.
Getting the best mentoring:
Getting the right mentoring is the stepping stone to success in any sport. The young genius is mentored by veteran coach GM R.B Ramesh, while India’s very own Vishy Anand keeps in touch with him and discusses games.
Let's sum up
Rameshbabu and his wife, Nagalakshmi, are simple parents who do nothing less than giving the best for their kids. According to Rameshbabu's interview with IANS, "He could be a Grandmaster in chess, but for me, he has always been my little kid and I treat him as such."
If you are looking to raise your chess enthusiast kid in a disciplined fashion akin to that of Pragg’s, enrol him/her in a leading chess institute. At Mind Mentorz, we hone young talents in the 360 degree aspect, mentoring them in the sport, cognitive development and character building. To know more, reach us at +91-960 68 47428.