Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Biography: Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, professionally known as Pragg, is a talented chess grandmaster who has made India proud in many national and international chess competitions. In June 2025, Praggnanandhaa’s triumph at the UzChess Cup Masters propelled him to become India’s leading chess player, while also climbing up to the fourth spot in the world rankings. His live FIDE rating at that time was recorded at 2778.3.
His chess journey began when he was just eight years old, and in 2013 he won the World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 title. With an IQ of around 170, Praggnanandhaa is considered one of the most talented and skilled chess players of today. 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 Pragnanandhaa 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. Pragnanandhaa’s father Rameshbabu works as a branch manager in TNSC Bank and his mother Nagalakshmi is a housewife. Pragnanandhaa’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 | 19 Year Old |
Father Name | Rameshbabu |
Mother Name | Nagalakshmi |
Brother Name | N/A |
Sister Name | R. Vaishali |
Height | 5’5″ (165cm) |
Weight | 45kg (99 lbs) |
Profession | Professional Chess Player (IND) |
School | Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai |
Ranking | 4th |
FIDE Rating | 2778.3 |
IQ Level | 170 |
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.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Ability
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa is a talented chess player, famous for his fast and aggressive playing style. He has an amazing ability to easily understand complex chess situations and find their correct solutions. This quality of his makes him a strong and special player in the world of chess.

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Rank
One of the top chess players, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has a FIDE rating of 2778.3 in June 2025 which is a result of his ability and good performance. He presently holds the World No. 4 position in global chess rankings.
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.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Net Worth and Salary
Category | Details |
---|---|
Net Worth | ₹ 17 Crore (USD $2 Million) |
Monthly Income | N/A |
Annual Income | ₹60-70L |
Active Years | 2013-Present |

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa’s net worth is currently around ₹17 crores ($2 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 most successful and highest-paid chess players. 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 ₹1 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.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Social Media
Social Media | Followers | Visit |
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841K Followers | Check Out | |
248K Followers | Check Out | |
83K Followers | Check Out |
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Biography: Conclusion
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, a young chess genius from India, has achieved outstanding milestones in the game of chess early in his career. With his sharp intellect, unmatched skills, and dedication, he has established himself as one of the top chess players globally. His journey from a young champion to a Grandmaster and securing a place among the world’s elite players is truly inspiring.
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