Praggnanandhaa Ascends to Top Junior Chess Rank, Anish Giri Responds with Wry Observation

Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, known for his sharp wit, sparked a debate in the chess community with his reaction to R Praggnanandhaa becoming the world's top-ranked junior player.

Anish Giri and R Praggnanandhaa, two prominent figures in the chess world.

"Chess juniors nowadays have to be at least U16; keeping track of U20 players is totally pointless," Giri quipped. The world No. 10's remark, made on social media, subtly acknowledged the exceptional talent emerging at a young age and challenging established players in the senior rankings. Giri currently holds a live rating of 2748.0.

The comment came on the heels of Praggnanandhaa's impressive victory at the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 in Uzbekistan. This win propelled the 19-year-old to a live rating of 2778.3.

The UzChess Cup victory also elevated him to the World No. 4 overall and made him the highest-rated chess player in India, surpassing D Gukesh (2776.6) and Arjun Erigaisi (2775.7).

Praggnanandhaa's path to victory was dramatic. He began the final day trailing Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov. However, a critical win against Abdusattorov in the last classical round forced a three-way tie.

In the ensuing blitz tiebreaks, Praggnanandhaa displayed remarkable composure, ultimately securing the tournament win in the second set of rapid games, marking his third major classical title this year.

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand praised the young champion's resilience: "This win seemed the least likely with just two rounds to go… An impressive demonstration of character."

With the UzChess Cup title, Praggnanandhaa adds to his impressive 2025 accolades, which include victories at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament and the Superbet Classic in Romania. He also secured a runner-up finish at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial.

While Giri's statement was lighthearted, Praggnanandhaa's recent performances underscore the growing prominence of young Indian chess players on the world stage. The future of chess is here, and it is making a significant impact.