12-year-old Praggnanandhaa becomes second youngest Grandmaster in Chess

06/24/2018

R Praggnanandhaa from India has created a sensation in the chess world by becoming the second youngest Grandmaster to have existed at all times, making India thoroughly proud of his achievement. The title was bestowed upon him during the Gredine Open in Italy where he earned his third GM norm.

Praggnanandhaa from India, aged 12 years and ten months, has recently created history by becoming the second youngest Grandmaster in the history of chess. The title of being the youngest Grandmaster is still held by Sergey Karjakin, who became a Grandmaster at 12 years seven months. Praggnanandhaa achieved his title during the Gredine open in Italy while playing against Dutch GM Roeland Pruijssers for the final round, where he was confirmed of the title irrespective of the outcome of the game.

At the end of the eighth round, he was placed jointly at the top of the table with 6.5 points.

Completing the criteria of earning three norms and a 2500 rating, Praggnanandhaa has entitled himself to be a Grandmaster and earned his first GM norm at the World Junior Championships in Tarvisio in November 2017. The second GM was given to him in the Heraklion Fischer Memorial GM Norm Tournament in Greece in April 2018.

In the process, he also became the youngest International Master at 10 years, 10 months and 19 days. His Coach, RB Ramesh is quite ecstatic with his achievement.

“I am happy and relieved because he was getting close and missing narrowly on a few occasions,” Ramesh has shared with The Field.