Posted by AI on 2025-08-20 11:59:35 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-20 17:08:21
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Karaikudi's Pranesh M. created history by winning the Chennai Grandmasters 2025, beating seasoned veterans. The win was not only a personal triumph but also a reflection of the new emerging face of elite-level chess in India.
Fifteen-year-old Pranesh M. came to Chennai Grandmasters 2025 with the eyes of the whole nation on him. A resident of the small city of Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu, Pranesh is only WIM-level player in the field of seasoned grandmasters and champions. But as the nine-round championship came to a thrilling end on Monday night, Pranesh scored an incredible eight points from a possible nine to win the title.
Pranesh defeated some of the best players in the country, including CM Karthik Venkataraman, GM Sriram Jha, and GM Lalith Babu to reach the finals. In the final round, he defeated another grandmaster, Humpy Koneru, to seal the championship. Amidst all the media attention and pressure, Pranesh reflected on his journey from the humble city of Karaikudi to the elite level of the sport in the nation following his triumph over seasoned campaigners at the CGM 2025.
"I never thought I would reach here. But my parents and my coach supported me a lot. This is a big moment for me and my city," said an ecstatic Pranesh, who received a prize money of five lakh.
With this victory, Pranesh has certainly announced himself on the national stage, posing a question to critics and followers alike: who is the next rising star of Indian chess?