Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, born in 2005 in Chennai, India, is one of the world’s most prodigious chess talents. He first rose to prominence by winning the World Youth Under-8 Championship in 2013 and became the second-youngest grandmaster in history at age 12. Known for his fearless and tactical play, Praggnanandhaa has repeatedly defeated elite players, including multiple victories over Magnus Carlsen in rapid formats.

His breakthrough on the classical stage came in 2023, reaching the Chess World Cup final and defeating Fabiano Caruana in the semi-finals. In 2024, he finished 5th in the Candidates Tournament and scored his first classical victory over Carlsen during Norway Chess. He also led India to a historic gold at the 45th Chess Olympiad, with his sister Vaishali winning gold in the Women’s section.

As of 2025, Praggnanandhaa continues to impress with his deep preparation, sharp calculation, and versatility across classical, rapid, and blitz, cementing his place among the world’s elite.