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I HAVE BECOME MORE AMBITIOUS AS A PLAYER: PRAGG
The Morning Standard
|December 16, 2025
AS one of the most in demand players on the chess circuit currently, R Praggnanandhaa has been constantly shuffling between cities and continents.
Since the beginning of October alone, he has played in three continents. Sao Paulo for the finals of the Grand Chess Tour. Goa for the World Cup. In London, he featured in the London Chess Classic Open. That London event confirmed his place at next year's Candidates as he topped the 2025 FIDE Circuit spot. A reward for the consistency the Indian has displayed this year.
But he does acknowledge that all the travelling has meant 'I have hardly been home this year'. It's also led to some situations where he has had no choice but to pack his bags and head to the airport even though 'I was dead'. In a conversation with select media after Day Two of the Global Chess League (GCL) in Mumbai on Monday, the Indian, who plays for Alpine SG Pipers in the league, opened up about the schedule, qualifying for the Candidates, and how 'I have become more ambitious' in terms of his playing style. Excerpts:
This story is from the December 16, 2025 edition of The Morning Standard.
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