Praggnanandhaa's Rise Triggers Witty Remark from Giri on Chess's Youth Revolution

Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, known for his wit, sparked a lively debate in the chess community with a lighthearted comment following R Praggnanandhaa's ascent to the World No. 1 junior ranking.

Giri, currently ranked world no. 10 with a live rating of 2748.0, quipped, "Chess juniors nowadays have to be at least U16, keeping track of U20 players is totally pointless." This remark subtly highlights the exceptional talent emerging at increasingly younger ages, challenging established norms in the chess world.

The comment followed Praggnanandhaa's impressive victory at the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 in Uzbekistan. The 19-year-old's performance propelled him to a live rating of 2778.3.

This achievement not only crowned him the World No. 1 junior but also elevated him to World No. 4 overall, surpassing D Gukesh (2776.6) and Arjun Erigaisi (2775.7) to become India's highest-rated chess player.

Praggnanandhaa's path to victory was marked by resilience. Trailing Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov on the final day, he secured a crucial win against Abdusattorov in the last classical round, forcing a three-way tie.

Demonstrating remarkable composure, Praggnanandhaa triumphed in the blitz tiebreaks, ultimately winning the tournament in the second set of rapid games, marking his third major classical title this year.

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

The UzChess Cup victory adds to Praggnanandhaa's impressive 2025 achievements, including wins 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 comment was playful, Praggnanandhaa's accomplishments underscore a significant shift: the future of world chess is rapidly evolving, with India at the forefront.