Praggnanandhaa named among FIDE Excellence Awards finalists for chess dominance

R Praggnanandhaa has been shortlisted for the inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards, joining reigning world champion D Gukesh and women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh in a historic Indian sweep of the nominations.

What happened?

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) unveiled the shortlist for its biennial Excellence Awards on Friday, with India’s top players dominating the Best Chess Player categories. Praggnanandhaa is among three Indian men nominated for Best Chess Player (Male), alongside Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi. The women’s category features Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy and R Vaishali, among others.

The awards ceremony will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September during the 46th Chess Olympiad. The inaugural edition covers performances from September 2024 to August 2026, with nominees selected by a FIDE jury after a public nomination process in June.

Why it matters for Praggnanandhaa

Praggnanandhaa’s inclusion puts him in elite company. The Best Chess Player (Male) category pits him against world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja and others. His rise mirrors Gukesh’s breakthrough as the youngest-ever classical world champion and Divya’s Women’s World Cup triumph.

The awards also recognize Praggnanandhaa’s broader impact. Gukesh and Divya are nominated for Best Breakthrough (Rookie of the Year), while the All India Chess Federation (AICF) is in the running for Best Federation. India’s Open and Women’s national teams are also finalists for Best Team.

Who else made the cut?

India’s list extends beyond the headline names. Pentala Harikrishna is nominated for Best Comeback, and Jennitha Anto is among the finalists for Best Chess Player with a Disability. ChessBase India Foundation is also recognized for Best Chess Initiative, highlighting the country’s grassroots growth in the sport.

The FIDE Excellence Awards Jury selected 10 nominees for each of the 11 categories, following a public nomination phase in June. The awards selection panel will now review the shortlist and vote to determine the winners.

What comes next?

The finalists now face a two-stage selection process. The awards selection panel will review the nominees before casting votes to decide the winners. The ceremony in Samarkand will cap months of anticipation for India’s chess community, which has seen its stars dominate global competitions in recent years.