R. Praggnanandhaa: This is one of the best phases of my career

The India No. 1 in chess ranking is kind of a musical chair now. It shows how strong the young Indians have been faring at the level.

The latest occupant of the hot seat is R. Praggnanandhaa, who is ranked World No. 4 in the latest FIDE rating list released on Tuesday. Arjun Erigaisi and D. Gukesh are placed No. 5 and 6, respectively.

Praggnanandhaa isn’t concerned much about the ranking. Rather, he is happy with the kind of chess he has been playing over the last few months. He has won three significant titles, including the prestigious Wijk aan Zee (Tata Steel) this year.

“Winning Wijk aan Zee meant a lot to me as it is an 87-year-old tournament, which was won in the past by several World champions,” Praggnanandhaa told Sportstar over a phone call from Zagreb, where he would be playing the third leg of the Grand Chess Tour. “It was also nice winning the Superbet Chess Classic in Romania and the UzChess Cup in Tashkent just a couple of days ago.”

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The 20-year-old from Chennai admits this has been one of the best phases of his career. “I have tried to change a few things about my chess, which has worked,” he said. “I am much more confident, and I push myself in those critical games.”

Praggnanandhaa is glad that the young Indians, apart from the top three, have been doing well of late. “Aravindh Chithambaram is playing great chess,” he said. “And Nihal Sarin has had good results in the classical formats of late. Our achievements, like Gukesh’s World title and Arujun breaking the 2800 Elo barrier, motivate each other.”

He is looking forward to the Esports World Cup, where he will represent Team Liquid, alongside World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. “It is nice that chess is becoming part of Esports,” he said.