India has a glorious history of producing exceptional Grandmasters who have achieved remarkable feats in the realm of chess. Adding to this legacy, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, an 18-year-old chess prodigy, is poised to make history in the final of the FIDE World Cup, currently being held in Azerbaijan.
In a captivating showdown, Praggnanandhaa is set to face off against the world's top-ranked player, Magnus Carlsen of Norway, in the Chess World Cup final. His journey to the final includes triumphant victories over the second and third-ranked players, Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana, respectively.
Born on August 10, 2005, in Tamil Nadu's capital city Chennai, Praggnanandhaa commenced his chess journey at the tender age of 5. Notably, he clinched the title of the youngest International Master in the history of the game at just 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days old.
Displaying unparalleled prowess, he achieved the Grandmaster norm at a mere 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days old, securing his place as the fifth youngest player to attain this prestigious milestone.
Chess excellence seems to run in the family, as Praggnanandhaa's elder sister, Vaishali Rameshbabu, is also a Grandmaster. She had secured victories in the Girls' World Youth Chess Championship for Under-14s and Under-12s, and previously earned the title of Woman International Master in 2016.
The support network behind Praggnanandhaa's achievements is equally remarkable. His father, Ramesh Babu, serves as a branch manager at TNSC Bank, while his mother, Nagalakshmi, stands as a steadfast pillar of encouragement, accompanying him to many of his tournaments.
Having previously triumphed over Carlsen on multiple occasions, Praggnanandhaa will be aiming to carve his name into the annals of history.
Also Read: Chess World Cup: R Praggnanandhaa stuns world no. 3 Fabiano Caruana; to face Magnus Carlsen in final