R Praggnanandhaa Becomes The New World Number 3

The young Indian chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa has officially become the World Number 3 in the live chess rankings. Yes, you read that right, the teenager who was once called a prodigy is now standing shoulder to shoulder with the biggest names of the chess world. This is huge news for Indian sports fans and chess lovers everywhere.

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When Did This Happen?

R Praggnanandhaa, only 20 years old, achieved this milestone after a stunning victory over the reigning World Champion, D Gukesh, in the opening round of the prestigious Sinquefield Cup held in St. Louis, USA. This win not just boosted his confidence but also pushed his live rating to a personal best of 2784.1 points, placing him right behind chess legends Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, who have ratings above 2800.

What Makes This Win Special?

What makes this achievement even more special is that R Praggnanandhaa had not beaten Gukesh in a classical format for over three years. Their rivalry is intense, with a total of 14 classical matches played over eight years, where Gukesh has held the upper hand recently. But Praggnanandhaa showed composure and skill in this encounter, capitalizing on some early mistakes by Gukesh, especially a misstep at move 14, to gradually take control of the game and win after 36 moves.

R Praggnanandhaa’s Career Best Ranking

This victory was not just a personal win but also a career milestone. Praggnanandhaa climbed to the highest live FIDE ranking of No. 3 for the first time, surpassing strong competitors like American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, who drew his opening game. The Sinquefield Cup is part of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour, a series of elite international tournaments, and with eight rounds still to go, Praggnanandhaa’s top form puts him in an excellent position to become the new World Number 3 in the September FIDE rankings.

As the Sinquefield Cup 2025 continues, all eyes will be on R Praggnanandhaa to see if he can maintain this momentum. His next big challenge is another tough opponent, Fabiano Caruana, in the second round, a match that could further secure his hold on the world No. 3 position.