Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Teen chess wizard Praggnanandhaa given hero's welcome

Hordes of supporters handed him bouquets of flowers and sweets in Chennai

Teen chess wizard Praggnanandhaa given hero's welcome

INDIA'S teen chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa arrived home to celebration on Wednesday (30), with media jostling to catch a glimpse of the newly minted star who faced international number one Magnus Carlsen in the World Cup final.

Popularly known as "Pragg", the 18-year-old is the youngest player to reach a chess World Cup final, held last week in the Azerbaijani capital Baku.

Pragg finished with the silver after losing to Carlsen in a nail-biting tiebreak at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) final.

He earned praise from chess legend Garry Kasparov who said Pragg was "very tenacious in difficult positions".

On Wednesday, Pragg was greeted by hordes of supporters who handed him bouquets of flowers and sweets as he emerged from the airport in his home city of Chennai in southern India.

"I am very happy to see so many people have come to receive me... it feels really great," he said, as he stood shyly waving from the sunroof of a car, with a purple and gold scarf draped around his neck.

Such adulation is usually reserved in India for cricket stars, who enjoy celebrity status.

The son of a bank employee and a housewife, the grandmaster has been playing the sport since he was four.

Mother's cooking

Pragg's success has been fuelled by the cooking of his mother Nagalakshmi, who accompanies him on chess tournaments with pots and southern Indian seasonings to make his favourite meal of rice and spicy rasam or sambhar soup.

Nagalakshmi told the ChessBase India news site on Tuesday that she had made rice and sambhar for Pragg at the FIDE World Rapid Team Championship in Dusseldorf, Germany, that followed the Baku event.

Pragg's first coach S Thiagarajan, who began teaching him at age four, said his student was always dedicated.

"He was always a bright student and a jovial child," Thiagarajan, who coached him at his academy until he was 10, said.

"He used to be in the academy every day from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, at times staying longer - and I would give him homework which would take at least three hours to finish," he said.

In 2018 - aged just 12 years, 10 months and 13 days - Pragg became the world's then second-youngest chess grandmaster.

Chess has gained in popularity in India in the past two decades after Vishwanathan Anand became the country's first grandmaster aged 18 in 1988 and dominated the game in the 2000s.

A predecessor to chess is thought by some to have originated in India in the sixth century AD, from where it spread to Persia and developed into the "Game of Kings" it is today.

(AFP)

More For You

starmer-football-getty

Starmer is a dedicated Arsenal supporter. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer pushes for Football Governance Bill amid Super League concerns

KEIR STARMER has urged the swift passage of the Football Governance Bill into English law in response to discussions about a potential European Super League.

Reports indicate that promoters A22 have approached UEFA and FIFA to seek official recognition for a new competition, referred to as the Unify League. The proposed format reportedly includes four leagues featuring 96 teams in total.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jason Gillespie opens up on resignation: Felt ‘unwanted’ as Pakistan’s test coach

Jason Gillespie

Jason Gillespie opens up on resignation: Felt ‘unwanted’ as Pakistan’s test coach

JASON GILLESPIE said on Monday (16) he felt no longer wanted as Pakistan’s Test coach and was left out of major decisions, having quit the post last week.

The 49-year-old Australian former fast bowler was appointed in April for two years, but differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took their toll.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brisbane Test

Rain disrupted the match regularly, making a result other than a draw unlikely after India avoided the follow-on late on Tuesday. (Photo: Getty Images)

Third Australia-India Test ends in a draw at Brisbane

THE THIRD Test between Australia and India at Brisbane concluded in a draw after bad weather interrupted play on the final day, leaving the series tied at 1-1.

India, set a target of 275 for victory, were 8-0 when early tea was called due to poor light.

Keep ReadingShow less
R Ashwin

Ashwin played 106 Tests, taking 537 wickets at an average of 24.00, making him India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests after Anil Kumble (619). (Photo: Getty Images)

R Ashwin announces retirement from international cricket

INDIA's off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a career spanning over a decade.

The 38-year-old made the announcement after the drawn third Test against Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Alexis Toylo Leads Asian Qualifiers at World Darts Championship
Source: Pixabay

Alexis Toylo Leads Asian Qualifiers at World Darts Championship

PDC Asian Tour number one Alexis Toylo has qualified for the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship for the first time in his career. He is one of several players from the Asian Tour that will make their debut in the tournament this year.

It has been an excellent season for Toylo. He started 2024 by winning five of the opening 11 events on the Asian Tour. The man from the Philippines is a long way clear of his rivals on the Order of Merit in Asia.

Keep ReadingShow less