The name of Gukeshu often appears in the discussion of Indian chess dominance over the last year and a half. The success of both open and female teams in the Budapest Olympics is often emphasized. The Triumph of the Divy Deshmukh and All-Indian Finals Final further strengthened the Indian position at the top of the world chess.
In the middle of this glory was also a pranava Venkatesh, the ruling World Junior Championship. His victory in the Junior World Championship presented a remarkable depth of talent in Indian chess. In an interview with India, Pranav spoke of the Chennai Grandmasters event and his experience in winning the World Junior Championship.
Here are a few excerpts from the interview of the Pranav Venkatesh
Q.) How did your life change overnight after the World Junior World Championship, especially with you who are now playing in Chennai Grandmasters and soon in the Great Swiss?
The victory of the world junior title was a huge success for me. I was the second seed and the field had many strong players, so I focused on making it the best. In this tournament, I felt that I was playing really well, with strong preparation, solid physical work and all that will be placed in place. One of the greatest rewards of becoming a world junior champion was the opportunity to play a match in the Great Swiss, which eventually helped me qualify for the event.
Q.) Initially, you were not ready to play in the Great Swiss Swiss for a decline in evaluation points, but later they got through a surrogate emblem. How did this happen?
List of evaluation used for a large Swiss selection dropped. Previously, my rating was 2620, which was enough for a comfortable qualification, but after a bad month my rating fell and I thought I wouldn’t do it. Then I received e -mail from the Asian chess Federation on the regional surplus sign from Asia. They wanted to organize a match between the world’s world juniors 2024 and 2025. At that moment I was excited because it gave me another chance to qualify for Grand Swiss.
Q.) With the world champion of juniors and Divya Deshmukh, who wins the World Cup, now dreams of candidates?
This idea is always there, but for now I focus on Chennai, followed by the Fujairah tournament. Both are very strong events, while players are rated over 2600. Then comes Grand Swiss, which of course is very competitive. Meanwhile, the priority is to focus on these two upcoming tournaments, playing well and seeing how it goes – without exerting too much pressure on each other.
Question 🙂 Is it your first main tournament in Chennai, your hometown, with all local hopes for you?
This is my first super tournament with all the best players and I am very glad that it is happening in my hometown, Chennai. I know many places here, so it doesn’t feel like I’m traveling a lot. Playing at home makes me really happy and I hope to go well.
Q.) After you won the World Junior Championship, did your colleague Chennai Gukesh interact with you or shared any tips?
We didn’t have much time to meet because he played a lot of tournaments, and I also had some. So we really didn’t have a chance to talk or see each other in any event.
QUESTION 🙂 Praranav, what is your favorite opening?
I think it’s 1.E4 – either Ruy Lopez or Italian. I played 1.E4 since the beginning of my chess career. Somehow I feel that 1.E4 is more aggressive than 1.D4, and because I am an aggressive player, I prefer 1.E4.
Q.) You mentioned that Grand Swiss has a different time control. How do you prepare mentally for the balance of attack and defense at that time, especially as a young player?
I think it is mainly time management well in shorter formats, such as 90 minutes plus 30 seconds of addition, without any time after 40 movements, or even Grand Swiss Time Control. If you can effectively handle your time in 90+30 format, longer time controls should not be a problem, because you will get more time there.
It is also about putting pressure on your opponent – if you exert pressure early, even at 100 minutes for 40 movements, your opponent can end in trouble and make mistakes. So if you play well in shorter formats, such as 90+30, you can well in longer.
Q.) If not for chess, what career would you persecute and what is your favorite subject at school?
I study in Vellamal and the school greatly supported my chess. But honestly, I wasn’t very interested in my studies. Maybe I would choose another sport like cricket instead.
– ends
Published:
Sabyasachi Chowdhury
Published on:
August 8, 2025
