Anish Giri Reacts to R Praggnanandhaa's Rise

Anish Giri, the Dutch Grandmaster, sparked conversation across the chess world on Friday with a tongue-in-cheek reaction to R Praggnanandhaa becoming the new World No.1 junior.

Giri, who currently holds a live rating of 2748.0 and is world no. 10, wrote that tracking U20 players is "totally pointless" as elite young talents are now already competing at the top of the senior world rankings.

The remark came shortly after 19-year-old Praggnanandhaa's remarkable victory at the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 in Uzbekistan, which propelled him to a live rating of 2778.3: making him the World No.4 overall and officially India's highest-rated chess player.

Praggnanandhaa's road to victory was nothing short of dramatic, starting the final day behind both Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov, and scoring a crucial win over Abdusattorov in the last classical round to force a three-way tie.

And then he showed nerves of steel in the blitz tiebreaks, eventually winning the tournament in the second set of rapid games: his third major classical title of the year.

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand applauded the youngster, stating that the win seemed the least likely with just two rounds to go, and was an impressive demonstration of character.

Praggnanandhaa adds the UzChess Cup to his 2025 title haul, which already includes victories at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament and the Superbet Classic in Romania.

So the future of world chess is already here, and it's thriving in India, with Praggnanandhaa's performance making one thing clear.

But Giri's comment playfully downplays the relevance of junior rankings, as the Dutch Grandmaster continues to compete at the top level.

With this triumph, Praggnanandhaa leapfrogged both World Champion D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, reshuffling the Indian chess hierarchy.

And Giri's reaction has sparked conversation across the chess world, with many discussing the relevance of junior rankings in modern chess.

The UzChess Cup Masters 2025 was a major tournament, with many of the world's top players competing, including Praggnanandhaa, Abdusattorov, and Sindarov.

Praggnanandhaa's victory was a significant one, as he became the World No.1 junior and India's highest-rated chess player, with a live rating of 2778.3.

Giri's live rating of 2748.0 is still one of the highest in the world, and he remains a top competitor in the chess world.

The chess world will be watching Praggnanandhaa's next moves closely, as he continues to compete at the top level and challenge the world's best players.

And with his third major classical title of the year, Praggnanandhaa is certainly one to watch in the world of chess.

But for now, Giri's reaction to Praggnanandhaa's rise remains a topic of conversation, with many discussing the relevance of junior rankings in modern chess.