Indian Chess Sensation R Praggnanandhaa Secures 2026 Candidates Tournament Spot
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Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has secured a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, having topped the FIDE Circuit 2025 standings. The 20-year-old chess prodigy took the lead in May, surpassing world No. 2 Ding Liren, and maintained his position throughout the season. Although his rivals, including Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana, and others, secured their spots via other paths, Praggnanandhaa's consistent performance earned him the top spot. In a thrilling finish, Praggnanandhaa tied for first place at the London Chess Classic Elite, scoring 7/9 points in a strong field. His impressive performance secured 8.17 circuit points, cementing his position as the sole Indian in the men's section of the Candidates Tournament. The women's section will feature Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, and R. Vaishali. Praggnanandhaa's 2025 season was marked by several notable achievements, including winning the Tata Chess Masters, where he defeated D Gukesh in the tie-breaker deciding round. He also finished fourth in the Prague Chess Festival 2025 and secured third place in the Grand Chess Tour Superbet Poland Rapid and Blitz 2025. Additionally, he won the Grand Chess Tour Superbet Chess Classic Romania and the 2nd UzChess Cup 2025 in blitz tiebreaks. Despite a disappointing performance at the World Cup in Goa, Praggnanandhaa's consistency and skill have earned him a well-deserved spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
