R Praggnanandhaa wins Grand Chess Tour and becomes India's top-ranked player

Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has become the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour title. Following a series of strong performances, including a victory at Norway Chess, the 21-year-old defeated GM Fabiano Caruana 15-13 in the final match held in St. Louis, USA.

Despite trailing 3-9 after the classical portion of the final, Praggnanandhaa secured the title through rapid and blitz formats. The victory earned him $200,000 in prize money.

As a result of his recent successes, Praggnanandhaa has climbed to world number 8 in the September 2026 FIDE rating list with a rating of 2761. This ascent also makes him the top-ranked player in India, overtaking Arjun Erigaisi.