Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa is one of the most promising young chess players of the 21st century. The journey of “Pragg,” as he is known, from the streets of suburban Chennai to the elite chess tournaments of the world is indeed phenomenal. His achievements at a young age have inspired millions of people around the world and started a new chess craze in the country. He is also lauded for his vision, ability to persevere and mature style of play.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, nicknamed as Pragg, is an Indian Chess Grandmaster. He was born on the 10th of August, 2005 in the Padi suburb of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Pragg follows Hinduism as his religion and he is Tamilian. Praggnanandhaa has been actively playing chess since 2010 and is currently ranked at number 4 in the Top 100 players. He is currently unmarried.
| Attributes | Details |
| Name | Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa |
| Nickname | Pragg |
| Date of Birth | 10th August, 2005 |
| Place of Birth | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Current Residency | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Profession | Chess Grandmaster |
| Rank | No. 4 |
| Years Active | 2010- present |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Age and Appearance
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa’s age is 19 years old and will turn 20 years of age in August 2025. His zodiac sign is Leo. He has a height of 4 feet 6 inches and weighs about 45 kgs. He is built slim and his hair and eyes are both black in colour.
| Appearance | Details |
| Age | 19 years old |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Height | 4 feet 6 inches |
| Height (in cm) | 137 cm |
| Weight | 45 kgs |
| Weight (in lbs) | 99 lbs |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Family and Early Life
Praggnanandhaa was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, into a Tamil-speaking family. His mother, Nagalakshmi, is a stay-at-home mom who frequently travels with Praggnanandhaa for tournaments, and his father, Rameshbabu, is a branch manager at TNSC Bank. Praggnanandhaa has an older sister, Vaishali who became a grandmaster in 2023.
| Family Member | Name | Occupation |
| Father | Rameshbabu | Brand Manager at TNSC Bank |
| Mother | Nagalakshmi | Homemaker |
| Sister | Vaishali | Chess Grandmaster |
Praggnanandhaa’s success is thus heavily tied to family. His father was the provider and had a job. Among chess players in India, Nagalakshmi, his mother, is a familiar figure, accompanying both children as they played tournaments around the world, managing logistics, cooking, and home-sickness. Much of his success is ascribed to the psychological and tactical guidance of coach R.B. Ramesh.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Education
Praggnanandhaa received his education at Chennai’s Velammal Main Campus, which has the distinction of promoting chess as its primary sport and boasting renowned players like GM Gukesh D, GM Leon Mendonca, and other highly regarded players like Ajay Karthikeyan, Pranav, Rakshitta, Rindhya and Savitha.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa IQ Level
The precise IQ of R Praggnanandhaa is unknown to the public; however, it is widely assumed to be 160+. IQ levels are typically kept confidential and are rarely revealed on public profiles. A value of more than 2600 may indicate an IQ level of 160+.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Career
- When Praggnanandhaa was just seven years old, he began to demonstrate his chess abilities.
- In 2013, he took home the under-8 World Youth Chess Championship.
- In 2015, he went on to win the Under-10 championship. He received the FIDE title of International Master when he was ten years old. At such a young age, he became the youngest individual to ever hold the title of IM.
- After earning his first grandmaster norm in November 2017 and his second in Greece in April 2018, he made significant strides. At 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days old, he became the second-youngest grandmaster ever in June 2018 after reaching his third and final grandmaster norm.
- In a fast-paced chess encounter in Spain in 2018, Praggnanandhaa played well against Wesley So. In 2019, Praggnanandhaa maintained his impressive play by taking home the World Youth Championships in the Under-18 division and the Xtracon Chess Open in Denmark. He became the second-youngest player to reach a 2600 rating in December of that year.
- Praggnanandhaa won the Polgar Challenge in 2021 while showcasing his skills on the Julius Baer Challengers Chess Tour. He qualified for the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour thanks to this triumph, where he faced off against some of the best players in the world, including World Champion Magnus Carlsen.
- He defeated Carlsen once more in the Chessable Masters online rapid chess event in May 2022 and advanced to the finals.
- One of his most noteworthy accomplishments occurred at the 2023 Chess World Cup, where he defeated Fabiano Caruana in the semifinals to become the youngest player to advance to the final at the age of 18.
- Despite his failure to win the title, his performance guaranteed him a place in the 2024 Candidates Tournament, making him just the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to reach the Chess World Cup final.
- With a score of 5.5/9, Praggnanandhaa won the Grand Chess Tour Superbet Chess Classic Romania in May 2025 after defeating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Alireza Firouzja in a playoff.
- With a score of 6.5/9, he finished second at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial in June 2025.
- In the same month that he won the 2nd UzChess Cup 2025 in blitz-tiebreaks, Praggnanandhaa joined the Dutch esports team Team Liquid. As a result of this triumph, Praggnanandhaa became the fourth-ranked player globally and the top-ranked Indian player in the July 2025 FIDE rankings.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Awards and Achievements
- Under-8 World Youth Chess Champion (2013)
- 2015 World Youth Chess Champion Under-10
- Ten-year-old international master (2016)
- Grandmaster at twelve (2018)
- Top Tournaments and Historic Victories Xtracon Chess Open Champion (2019)
- 2020 Aeroflot Open Champion
- The youngest player to advance to the finals of the FIDE Chess World Cup (2023) and earn a spot in the 2024 Candidates Tournament.
- Tata Steel Chess Masters Winner (2025): After defeating Gukesh Dommaraju in a thrilling tie-break, he became the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand to win this coveted title.
- UzChess Masters Champion (2025): A tight blitz finish sealed victory in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- 45th Chess Olympiad Gold Medallist (2024): An important member of the Indian and international teams on the second board.
- A member of the men’s team won a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games.
FIDE Rating and Current Ranking
With a FIDE rating of 2779, Praggnanandhaa is currently the fourth-ranked player in the world and the top-ranked player in India in classical chess as of July 2025.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Net Worth
Although Praggnanandhaa is the owner of Play Magnus, a well-known online chess business, his precise income is unknown. His estimated net worth is approximately $1 million, or 83 lakh Indian rupees, according to media estimates.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Social Media
Praggnanandhaa is active on social media, interacting with followers on sites like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). He inspires a new generation of chess fans by regularly sharing tournament updates, inspirational posts, and personal anecdotes.
| Social Media Platform | Account ID | Number of Followers |
| @pragg_chess | 838 K | |
| X (formerly known as Twitter) | @rpraggnachess | 249.6 K |
Conclusion
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa is a brilliant example of youth, tenacity, and the strength of steadfast familial support. Many young chess enthusiasts in India and abroad have been inspired by Praggnanandhaa’s quick rise from his humble beginnings in Chennai to his position as one of the youngest grandmasters in history. His poised manner, astute strategic thinking, and capacity to contend with the best players in the world are a testament to his natural talent as well as his family’s sacrifice and commitment.
Praggnanandhaa is a real role model because of his humility and sportsmanship, which go beyond his impressive list of titles and record-breaking accomplishments. His influence is influencing Indian chess’s future and heralding a new generation of champions as he keeps moving up the world chess rankings.
FAQs
A1. Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa is an Indian chess grandmaster known for his rapid rise in the global chess rankings and remarkable achievements at a young age.
A2. As of 2025, he is 19 going on 20 years old.
A3. Praggnanandhaa became a chess Grandmaster at the age of 12 years and 10 months in 2018, becoming the second-youngest grandmaster ever.
A4. Yes, he has notably defeated Magnus Carlsen, the former world champion, several times in rapid games, marking a significant achievement.
A5. As of mid-2025, his classical FIDE rating is approximately 2779, making him India’s top player and world number four.
Written By: Mathews
Audited By: Rahi
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