'I had fever': R Praggnanandhaa after double medals at Chess Olympiad | Exclusive
Indian chess grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa reflects on his recent performance at the 46th Chess Olympiad despite battling illness. The 21-year-old maintains a high standard of play following his historic wins at Norway Chess and the Grand Chess Tour.
Why it matters
Praggnanandhaa is a leading figure in the global chess circuit, and his health and performance are significant indicators for the future of Indian chess on the international stage.
NEW DELHI: In the open section of the 2026 Candidates Tournament, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa was India's sole representative in Cyprus earlier this year. He did not win the top prize there. But the quality of chess he played was unmistakably high.He has continued to maintain that standard at every tournament since, and the results have simply followed.Despite being last at one point at Norway Chess, he made a remarkable comeback, beating five-time world champion and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice on his home soil to become the first Indian ever to lift that coveted title in June.More recently, he became the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour.
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