This 11-year-old may soon surpass Viswanathan Anand and become world’s youngest Grandmaster

Praggnanandhaa, who is already the youngest International Master, can also become the youngest Grandmaster

By: Ankit Chatterjee |
December 9, 2016 5:14 pm

Viswanathan Anand who is considered as the greatest Indian chess player will soon have competition from a much younger homegrown talent. A certain chess prodigy who goes by the name of Praggnanandhaa is making headlines by breaking records for fun at the tender age of 11. The young boy has managed to develop unimaginable skills for someone of his age, which is apparently making the entire chess fraternity back him to do wonders for India in the foreseeable future.

Praggnanandhaa had previously clinched the Under-8 boys World Youth Chess Championship in 2013. He then bagged the Under-10 boys World Youth Chess Championship in 2015. The Indian protege who is coached by RB Ramesh became the youngest International Master in the history of the sport, at the age of just 10 years and 10 months.

To be awarded the Grandmaster status, Praggnanandhaa must claim three norms of 2,600+ performances from individual competitions. At the moment, he has a FIDE rating of 2,455 (Elo points) and thus must pick up the remaining points in the upcoming tournaments. Being exactly 11 years and three months old he has approximately 16 months to break the world record of Russian legendary chess player, Sergey Karjakin, who had acquired the Grandmaster status at the age of 12 years and seven months.

If his skills aren’t convincing enough, take a look at the following facts.

Magnus Carlsen who is currently the world champion in chess became a Grandmaster at 13 years and seven months. Viswanathan Anand who was the first ever Indian to become a Grandmaster completed the feat at the age of 18. While, Parimarjan Negi, who presently holds the record of India’s youngest Grandmaster achieved the feat at 13 years and four months.

Still doubting Pragnanandhaa’s undeniable talent?

Praggnanandhaa had a chance to meet Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand earlier this year.

Pragnanandhaa lives with his family in Padi, which is located on the outskirts of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. His parents who lovingly call him ‘Pragga’ are also very supportive of his dreams to become the best chess player in the world. Apart from chess, the kid absolutely loves watching cartoons with Chota Bheem, Mighty Raju, Tom and Jerry being his favourite shows on TV. On a more serious note, if R Pragnanandhaa continues to perform this way, he will not only become the world’s youngest Grandmaster but also the next Viswanathan Anand.