Praggnanandhaa Wins UzChess Cup, Becomes India’s Top-Ranked Chess Player

Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa has clinched the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 title in Tashkent, marking his third major classical tournament victory this year. The win propelled the 19-year-old to a live rating of 2778.3, making him World No. 4 and India’s top-ranked player, ahead of fellow Grandmasters D. Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi.

Why in News?

On June 27, 2025, Praggnanandhaa triumphed in a dramatic final round of the UzChess Cup Masters, overtaking top contenders Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov. This victory boosted him to a career-high ranking, surpassing India’s other top players and reaffirming his status as one of the most promising talents on the global chess stage.

Tournament Highlights

• Location: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Tournament: UzChess Cup Masters 2025
• Date of victory: June 27, 2025
• Final score (round-robin stage): 5.5 points (tied with Abdusattorov and Sindarov)

Tiebreak Format

• First tiebreak: Double round-robin blitz — all players tied with 2 points
• Second tiebreak: Praggnanandhaa beat Sindarov and drew with Abdusattorov
• Sindarov’s win over Abdusattorov sealed the title for Praggnanandhaa

Ranking Impact

• Live FIDE Rating: 2778.3
• World Rank: No. 4 (up from No. 7)

Top Indians Surpassed

• D. Gukesh (2776.6) – Now World No. 5
• Arjun Erigaisi (2775.7) – Now World No. 6

Global Leaders

• Magnus Carlsen: 2839.2 (World No. 1)
• Hikaru Nakamura: 2807.0
• Fabiano Caruana: 2784.2

Reactions & Legacy

Viswanathan Anand

• Praised Praggnanandhaa’s fighting spirit and character
• Called it his “least likely win” considering the standings two rounds before the finish
• Highlighted his consistency in winning tiebreaks — this being his third tiebreak win in 2025