Praggnanandhaa is more dangerous than Magnus Carlsen: GM Thipsay

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who became the first Indian to win the prestigious Norwegian chess title, received a glowing tribute from veteran grandmaster and Dronacharya awardee Pravin Thipsay.

Thipsay believes that Praggnanandhaa is currently India’s strongest chess player and, on current form, a more dangerous opponent than even world number one Magnus Carlsen.

Speaking to PTI after Praggnanandhaa’s triumph in Stavanger, Thipsay said the 20-year-old has proven to be one of the toughest players to face in world chess.

“Praggnanandhaa is the best Indian chess player at the moment. In his current form, he can be considered one of the most dangerous opponents in the world, even more dangerous than Carlsen,” Thipsay said.

The veteran coach pointed to Praggnanandha’s recent success against Carlsen and claimed that very few players have been able to consistently challenge Nor in recent years.

Praggnanandhaa capped a remarkable week by becoming the first Indian to win Norwegian chess, one of the most prestigious events in the international calendar. The youngster sealed the title after winning his last four rounds against opponents rated above 2750, including victories over Carlsen and reigning world champion D. Gukesh.

“What a great comeback. After a somewhat disappointing 2025, he produced something truly extraordinary. Indian chess needed such a performance,” added Thipsay.

THIPSAY EXPLAINS THE CARLSEN COMPARISON

For Thipsay, the biggest takeaway from Praggnanandha’s rise has been his ability to consistently beat elite opposition.

The former India player said that while Carlsen remains the world No. 1, Praggnanandha’s recent performances have made him one of the most feared players on the circuit.

Thipsay also rated Praggnanandha as India’s strongest player at the moment, placing him ahead of Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi on current form.

According to him, the Norwegian chess triumph was among the best achievements of an Indian player in recent years, especially because of the quality of opponents that Praggnanandhaa defeated en route to the title.

EVOLUTION OF PRAGGNANANDHAA

Thipsay believes the biggest reason behind Praggnanandha’s success has been the transformation of his game over the past few years.

Once seen primarily as a sharp attacking player who relied heavily on opening set-up, Praggnanandhaa has evolved into a much more complete competitor capable of excelling in all types of positions.

“Three or four years ago, he was feared because of his attacking chess. But opponents have gradually learned how to neutralize those strengths. Over the past months, he has added new dimensions to his game, including improved defense, positional understanding and tactical precision,” explained Thipsay.

The veteran grandmaster likened Praggnanandha’s development to players such as former world champions Anatoly Karpov and Carlsen, who built their success on consistency and superior understanding rather than just opening advantages.

Thipsay also endorsed Praggnanandha as one of India’s leading contenders for the world title, alongside Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi.

“It’s very important to maintain form for a long time. Like Kasparov, he was the strongest and highest-ranked player in the world for 18 years. If our youngsters get that consistency and don’t give one-off performances, then it would be really great,” he said.

Former grandmaster Dibyendu Barua also hailed Praggnanandha’s achievement, calling the Norwegian chess title a significant milestone in the youngster’s career.

However, Barua emphasized that Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh and Arjun all operate at a similar level and continue to push each other forward.

“The competition between them brings out the best of the three. Sometimes Arjun wins, sometimes Praggnanandhaa, sometimes Gukesh. We are witnessing a golden era of Indian chess,” Barua said.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

07 Jun 2026 14:56 IST