R Praggnanandhaa is on the most well liked streak of his profession. The UzChess Cup is the third title of 2025 he has claimed after the Tata Metal Chess match in Wijk aan Zee and the Superbet Chess Traditional Romania. Remarkably, in all three classical tournaments, he received by tiebreaks, underneath quicker time controls.
In a freewheeling interview with The Indian Specific, Praggnanandhaa talks about “feeling lifeless” in the course of the match, incomes the respect of the older technology like Magnus Carlsen, and why successful the Wijk aan Zee occasion was essential for his season and extra. Excerpts:
The UzChess Cup is the third match you could have received this 12 months moreover ending second through tiebreaks in a 4th occasion. What’s the secret of your success in 2025?
Praggnanandhaa: I don’t suppose there’s a secret ingredient. It’s nearly retaining on combating in each sport. The primary factor is the psychological side. I’m rather more assured and impressive than final 12 months. On this match, for instance, I needed to win the final two video games to have any probability of successful the match and I used to be enjoying Arjun (Erigaisi) and Nodirbek (Abdusattorov), who’re two of the strongest gamers proper now. I nonetheless managed to win which required a whole lot of psychological effort. I’m completely happy that it’s exhibiting on the board.
What modified that gave you this confidence and ambition?
Praggnanandhaa: Successful Wijk aan Zee was essential, it gave me a whole lot of confidence, particularly these three wins I had (in a row) to catch (D) Gukesh within the match lead. I took confidence from that. This 12 months I imagine in myself; I can win tournaments. Solely if you win the primary match, you’ll be able to truly present your self that you are able to do it.
Given how sturdy many Indians are, match organisers must make powerful calls to depart out somebody. Final 12 months, Arjun was not getting invites. This 12 months, we didn’t see you at Norway Chess. Was this title your approach of proving to the world that you just’re among the many greatest?
Praggnanandhaa: I don’t suppose I’m attempting to show something to anybody. I identical to enjoying chess and I wish to be the perfect at what I’m doing.
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You spoke concerning the psychological side. However there’s additionally a bodily side to enjoying the game, particularly if you play a lot
Praggnanandhaa: I’m not in a position to work out as I wish to due to back-to-back tournaments. Through the UzChess Cup, I may really feel that I used to be not at my normal vitality degree, as early as spherical two. I used to be attempting to save lots of my vitality by doing much less prep. That helped me. That’s one of many the reason why I misplaced two video games within the center. Sooner or later I simply couldn’t play. I used to be utterly lifeless sooner or later. Simply needed to relaxation. However you don’t get that (luxurious) in the course of the match, so you retain combating.
Praggnanandhaa received the UzChess Cup title, which is his third triumph of 2025. (PHOTO: Praggnanandhaa through X)
So what does the remainder of your 12 months appear like and the way do you handle the funds?
Praggnanandhaa: I’ll be enjoying in Zagreb in 4 days. Then I’ll play in Freestyle Las Vegas, then Final Likelihood Qualifiers for the Esports World Cup, Grand Chess Tour tournaments, primarily Sinquefield Cup. There’ll even be the Grand Swiss and FIDE World Cup. It’ll be a tightly-packed schedule. Due to the Adani Group, I’ve been in a position to handle every thing, particularly final 12 months, when there was a Candidates match, which required a complete staff and in-person camps. This stuff want huge monetary assist. One other factor is that they have been all the time there for me throughout my lows, providing assist.
How would you examine your strategy in 2024 and 2025 seasons?
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Praggnanandhaa: This 12 months we did small experiments. Making an attempt to play quick in a number of video games after which attempting to play usually. Or attempting to do extra prep earlier than video games after which much less prep. We did attempt these items to see which of them truly suited me.
READ MORE | RB Ramesh explains Praggnanandhaa’s 2025 success: Taking part in ‘dangerous’ chess, extra number of openings and extra
In 4 tournaments this 12 months, you could have fought your approach by tiebreaks, successful three of them. How simple is it so that you can make that adjustment on the final second when you find yourself enjoying classical, after which have to change to a quicker time management hours later?
Praggnanandhaa: To start with, I don’t wish to win tournaments on tiebreaks. I wish to win straight up. However it’s so taking place that I needed to play three tiebreaks to win the tournaments. It’s difficult to vary your mindset, it’s difficult to play instantly after you could have simply performed a classical sport. However you already know, when you find yourself on the board, you simply have to present your greatest. I simply realised that in all three instances, I did a distinct outcome within the closing classical sport. In Wijk aan Zee, I misplaced my final classical sport after which performed a tiebreak. In Bucharest, I made a draw after which a tiebreak. Right here in UzChess, I received and performed a tiebreak. So there have been three completely different feelings coming into the tiebreak. On the finish of the day, it’s nearly being calm.
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After Norway Chess, we heard feedback from Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana that they didn’t suppose the younger technology was able to take over but. Caruana even mentioned that enjoying in opposition to you guys was not “scary” but. What do you are feeling about that?
Praggnanandhaa: When folks say “take over”, it’s not clear what precisely it means. As a result of Gukesh is the world champion. For those who see, I simply received three tournaments, Vincent Keymer received the Freestyle Chess occasion in Weissenhaus in good model. Arjun crossed 2800 score. Nodirbek (Abdusattorov) was additionally shut in a whole lot of tournaments. So we’ve received some vital tournaments the place others have been enjoying, however that doesn’t imply that we’re higher than them. They’re additionally very sturdy. I don’t see them (Carlsen, Nakamura and Caruana) as gamers from a distinct technology. After I play them, I simply see them as one other participant who’s very sturdy. I’m undecided we should always actually examine generations. They’re actually good, Magnus has dominated every thing. Fabi is also just like the third highest rated participant (in historical past). What they are saying, I feel is true to some extent, as a result of I don’t suppose we’re higher than them. For those who see as a technology, we do give equal battle and we’re combating on equal phrases. However I feel we’re additionally bettering. It may change in a while.
Whenever you play them, has your mindset additionally sort of modified? Let’s say you’re going through Magnus tomorrow, do you strategy the sport barely otherwise?
Praggnanandhaa: No, I don’t suppose so. I see each participant as the identical. I attempt to put together in a approach that might go well with me once I’m enjoying them. I feel that’s what everybody does. Taking part in Magnus is a little more particular as a result of he’s clearly the strongest participant now. But when I play let’s say Fabi or Arjun, I don’t suppose it will matter. Like for me, I’m enjoying one other sturdy participant and I simply wish to give my greatest. When it comes to my prep, let’s say like one or two years again, I’d nonetheless do the identical (as I put together now to face these sturdy gamers). However in comparison with two years again, I do know I can beat these gamers as a result of I’ve achieved it. So that provides me confidence. However how I strategy the sport nonetheless stays the identical.
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READ MORE | 4 tiebreaks, three titles: Story of Praggnanandhaa’s barnstorming 2025
Do you see the senior gamers taking fewer dangers than they have been when enjoying you two years in the past?
Praggnanandhaa: Yeah, I feel we’ve bought that respect now that we’re sturdy. We’re additionally sturdy gamers and we will play on equal phrases. For positive, they don’t take huge dangers as earlier however nonetheless Magnus is an exception. He does take a whole lot of dangers in opposition to anybody. So it doesn’t matter.
There was this joke about Indian chess that the hardest place in chess to hold on to is India primary. What do you must say about that since you might be India primary?
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Praggnanandhaa: This India primary can change each sport. I don’t suppose it issues who’s India primary proper now. I don’t suppose it actually issues. For me greater than being India primary, it’s about successful this match that makes me happier. In fact, score does matter.
What are the possibilities that when the subsequent World Championship occurs, we see an Indian participant competing in opposition to Gukesh?
Praggnanandhaa: I’m hoping for it. I’m attempting to present my greatest. There are a whole lot of sturdy gamers. You must hold giving your greatest and see the way it goes. We even have Arjun and Aravindh on the high. So we’ve good possibilities.