Chennai boy is world’s second-youngest Grandmaster

CHENNAI: Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand used to be 18 when he changed into a Grandmaster. Magnus Carlsen, the person who toppled Anand as international champion in 2013 and has been reigning since then, changed into a GM at 13 years and four months. So it’s transparent India has an excessively particular talent in R Praggnanandhaa, who on Saturday evening changed into the arena’s second-youngest GM ever at 12 years, 10 months and 13 days.

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Praggu, as he’s affectionately known, achieved the feat when he defeated GM Moroni Luca Jr in round 8 of the 4th Gredine Open in Italy. When TOI spoke to the Chennai lad, he used to be remarkably composed. “There is a way of relief that I have performed it. I guess the feeling is yet to totally sink in. I wasn’t conscious about the possibility of changing into a GM till any person informed me while I used to be heading for my round 8 match. I selected no longer to think of it as it could have robbed me of my concentration. My subsequent goal will clearly be to become the arena champion,” he mentioned.

I can now play more freely, says GM Praggu

Anand, Praggu's idol, used to be quick to congratulate the young gun. "Welcome to the club & congrats Praggnanandhaa!! See u soon in chennai?" he tweeted.

Welcome to the club & congrats Praggnanandhaa!! See u quickly in chennai?

— Viswanathan Anand (@vishy64theking) 1529808295000

Praggu changed into the youngest International Master on this planet in May 2017 and bagged his maiden GM norm at the World Junior Championships in November ultimate year. If he had two more GM norms before March 10 this year, he would have beaten Sergey Karjakin's report of changing into the youngest ever GM (at 12 years and seven months). However RB Ramesh, Praggu’s coach, says his ward never lamented lacking the chance. “I don’t think Praggu used to be chasing the youngest GM tag. Yes, he would analyse his sport, call to mind getting higher at it but past that, he never dwelled too much at the results,” Ramesh mentioned.

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When his parents — Rameshbabu and Nagalakshmi — offered him to the game, it changed into transparent from the outset that Praggu had an eye for making the appropriate moves. He began off following elder sister Vaishali — who's not off course to reach her maiden IM norm — but quickly zoomed ahead. "He was sharp with his moves and played the game for the love of it. Results didn't matter much as long as he enjoyed the game," mentioned Rameshbabu.

Praggu conceded that the constant discussion on gaining the GM identify got to him every now and then, however the class VIII scholar at Velammal School in Mogappair used to be in a position to shrug it off temporarily. “I won’t say it affected my performance, but I have thought of it a few instances. I can now play a lot more freely,” he printed.