R Praggnanandhaa in 2026: World No. 8 Indian Grandmaster and Candidates Qualifier
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Biography: Praggnanandhaa, aka R Praggnanandhaa, is an Indian chess grandmaster who has brought laurels to India in international tournaments – like reaching the World Cup final.
Praggnanandhaa has a rating of 2758 in the latest FIDE classical rating list as of January 2026, placing him at No. 8 in the world rankings. He is currently ranked No. 2 among Indian players, behind Arjun Erigaisi.
His chess journey began when he was just eight years old, and in 2013 he won the World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 title. Pragg is quick to pick up on board positions, which comes from his practice and focus – something that puts him among the top players. He is the youngest player to become an International Master, as well as the second youngest Grandmaster in the world. In view of his excellent performance, he has also been awarded the Arjuna Award by the Government of India.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Personal Life and Family
Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa was born in Padi, an industrial township in west Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 10 August 2005 in a middle-class family.
He was inspired to play chess by his elder sister R. Vaishali, who is four years older than him and holds the FIDE titles of International Master and Woman Grandmaster. They made history as the first siblings ever to both earn the Grandmaster title and secure spots in the Candidates Tournament.
Praggnanandhaa’s father Rameshbabu works as a branch manager in TNSC Bank and his mother Nagalakshmi is a housewife. Praggnanandhaa’s parents have supported him and his sister a lot and encouraged them to pursue their careers.
| Name | R. Praggnanandhaa |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa |
| Nick Name | Pragg |
| Birth Date | August 10, 2005 |
| Birth Place | Padi, an industrial township in west Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Age | 20 Years Old |
| Father Name | Rameshbabu |
| Mother Name | Nagalakshmi |
| Sister Name | R. Vaishali |
| Height | 5’5″ (165cm) |
| Weight | 52kg (114 lbs) |
| Profession | Professional Chess Player (IND) |
| School | Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai |
| Ranking | 8th |
| FIDE Rating | 2758 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Hobbies | Table Tennis, Watching Cricket |
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Education
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who has made a name for himself in chess at the world level, is a high school student at Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai. He is continuing his studies along with his chess career. The school where Praggnanandhaa is studying has given many grandmasters to India. The Velammal School has produced multiple Grandmasters like Pragg and Vaishali, highlighting the chess culture of Chennai.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Ability
Pragg’s style is aggressive, with him building attacks quickly – as seen in games against Carlsen. He finds the right moves in complex middlegames, which gives him an edge against tough opponents.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Rank
In the January 2026 FIDE Classical rankings, Praggnanandhaa is ranked world No. 8 and India’s No. 2 player.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa career
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa entered the world of chess at a very young age. At the age of just 8, he showed his talent by winning the World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 title, which earned him the title of FIDE Master. His elder sister R. Vaishali was herself a strong player, inspired by whom he started taking chess seriously from childhood. In 2016, at just 10 years old, Praggnanandhaa made history by becoming the youngest ever to earn the title of International Master.
In 2018, only two years later, he demonstrated remarkable talent at the Gredine Open in Italy and secured the prestigious Grandmaster title. This feat made him the second youngest grandmaster in the world, following only Sergey Karjakin. In the same year, he played against Wesley So in the Magistral de León Masters — he won the first game, but the final score went against him at 2½–1½.
After this, his game continued to improve. In 2015, he won the World Youth Championship Under-10 and in 2019 in the Under-18 category. In 2021, Praggnanandhaa won the important tournament Polgar Challenge, giving him a chance to participate in the prestigious Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, where he competed with the world’s top players. There he played a draw against Magnus Carlsen and defeated legends like Teimour Radjabov.
In 2022, he made headlines globally by defeating Carlsen in the Airthings Masters and the FTX Crypto Cup. His performance in the FTX Crypto Cup was so strong that he finished second. Then in 2023, he made history by reaching the Chess World Cup final — defeating Fabiano Caruana to become the youngest finalist. Although he lost to Magnus Carlsen in a tie-break, he still got a chance to play in the 2024 Candidates Tournament.
In 2024, he finished 5th in the Candidates and won a classical match against Carlsen in the Norway Chess tournament. At the 45th Chess Olympiad, he played a key role in India winning the gold medal in the open section, while his sister Vaishali won the gold medal in the women’s category.
His career reached further heights in 2025 when he won the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Masters title – becoming the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to do so. He then won the UzChess Cup Masters and became India’s number 1 player, defeating D Gukesh. In the same year, he participated in the Esports World Cup 2025 with Team Liquid, where his performance was praised by chess legends like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.
In December 2025, Praggnanandhaa won the FIDE Circuit 2025, thereby directly qualifying for the 2026 Candidates Tournament – a result of his consistent performances throughout the year.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Awards and Honors
| Year | Award/Honor | Details/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Arjuna Awards | Received from Government of India, Outstanding Performance in Sports for Young Achievers. |
| 2023 | CNN-News18 Indian of the Year (Sports) | Won the Rising Sportstar category, national recognition after reaching the World Cup final. |
| 2024 | Chess Olympiad Gold Medal (Team) | Won Gold with India’s Open Team in Budapest – Made a strong contribution across the board. |
| 2022 | Chess.com Rising Star of the Year | Honor from the International Chess Community for Early Breakthroughs. |
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Net Worth and Salary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | ₹ 9 Crore (USD $1 Million) |
| Monthly Income | ₹15-20 Lakh |
| Annual Income | ₹2 Crore |
| Active Years | 2013-Present |
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa’s net worth is currently around ₹9 crores (USD $1 Million) which is a result of his outstanding performance in his chess career. He has added to his wealth through several national and international tournaments. He is one of the top Indian and successful young chess players in the world. Most of his wealth comes from his social media, brand promotions, prize money, brand endorsements, investments, and collaborations with several companies. According to sources, he earns ₹2 crore annually, including sponsorships from Adani Sportsline, Ramco, and Play Magnus.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Facts
- In 2016, he achieved the title of International Master at just 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days old, becoming the youngest ever to do so.
- In 2023, he made history as the youngest player to reach the Chess World Cup final, ultimately losing to Magnus Carlsen.
- He defeated Magnus Carlsen multiple times in rapid and blitz formats, including in 2022 and 2024.
- Pragg and his sister Vaishali are the first sibling duo to qualify for the Candidates Tournament.
- In 2025, he joined Team Liquid for the Esports World Cup, praised by Carlsen and Nakamura.
- In 2023, he was honored with the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year award in the Sports category.
- Praggnanandhaa played a key role in India’s open team winning the gold medal at the 2024 Chess Olympiad, playing on board 3, where he also impressed with his individual performance.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Social Media
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Biography: Conclusion
Praggnanandhaa won the GM title at a young age and played the World Cup final – now he is counted among the top players and is expected to perform well in the future as well.
Disclaimer: The information provided on bioworthinfo.com is for informational purpose only. All articles, biographies and content on this website are based on publicly available information, research and personal insights. Bio Worth Info will not be responsible if the information presented is incorrect. If any error or inaccuracy is found in any information, please contact us, and we will try to rectify it. The information provided on this website may change over time, and we recommend verifying any details before using them for any purpose.
1 thought on “Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Biography 2026: Net Worth, Age, Family, Chess Achievements & IQ”