Praggnanandhaa Clinches UzChess Cup, Becomes India’s No. 1

In Tashkent, 19-year-old Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa achieved a career milestone by winning the 2025 UzChess Cup Masters. With his live rating soaring to 2778.3, he officially became World No. 4, his highest ever, and surpassed compatriots Dommaraju Gukesh (2776.6) and Arjun Erigaisi (2775.7) to claim the title of India’s top-ranked classical player. Globally, only Magnus Carlsen (2839.2), Hikaru Nakamura (2807.0), and Fabiano Caruana (2784.2) remain ahead of the Chennai-born star.Final-Round Triumph: The Win that Changed EverythingThe match played out in the final classical round. Praggnanandhaa faced Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the Uzbek local favorite, trailing him by a full point and also one-half behind Javokhir Sindarov. With pressure mounting and elimination looming, the Indian GM delivered a razor-sharp performance with the Black pieces in a 49-move battle to secure the critical win. That victory leveled him with Abdusattorov and Sindarov at 5.5/9, forcing the contest into the decisive blitz tiebreaks. Back in Chennai and New Delhi, family, coaches, and fans watched live: the narrative arc shifting from fleeting hope to outright triumph. As each piece flicked across the board in Tashkent, India’s hopes shined.UzChess Cup: Uzbekistan’s Prestigious Annual Chess TournamentThe UzChess Cup is a prestigious annual closed chess tournament held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, attracting some of the world’s top grandmasters and rising stars. It first started in June 2024. The event spans over a week, typically in June. Designed to showcase classical chess at the highest level, the UzChess Cup quickly gained recognition for its competitive format and strong player field. The 2025 edition, where R. Praggnanandhaa claimed victory, continued this tradition by hosting intense battles between elite players, including local talents like Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov. The tournament’s success not only highlights Uzbekistan’s growing prominence in the chess world but also provides a vital platform for emerging international stars to demonstrate their skills on a global stage. A Season Like No Other: Three Titles, Four Tiebreaks, One ChampionThe UzChess Cup marks Praggnanandhaa’s third major classical title this year, following his triumphs at Tata Steel in the Netherlands and the Superbet Classic in Romania. He also finished runner-up at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial. Praggnanandhaa’s journey unfolds not as a lone genius, but as the product of rigorous coaching, familial sacrifice, and a national flame rekindled by youthful energy. His breakthrough is shared by thousands of young Indian chess fans who see him, at 19, as both a prodigious individual. Next up: the Grand Chess Tour Croatia, beginning July 2, where he’ll test his form in rapid and blitz formats alongside the world’s elite. In Tashkent, Praggnanandhaa didn’t just win a trophy; he marked his arrival. The leap to World No. 4 and India’s No. 1 against top global competition cements his status not merely as a promising talent but as a generational force. .