Praggnanandhaa wins Grand Chess Tour Finals, becomes first Indian champion

R. Praggnanandhaa has won the Grand Chess Tour Finals in St Louis, defeating American Fabiano Caruana 15-13. The victory marks a historic milestone as Praggnanandhaa becomes the first Indian to claim the GCT title.

The win represents a strong comeback for Praggnanandhaa following a disappointing campaign at the 2026 Candidates tournament. Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand praised the young player's performance, stating, "I think at the moment, I would say he's the number one player in the world."