Who Is Pranesh M? Meet The Karaikudi Boy Who Stunned The Challengers Field At Chennai Gransmasters 2025

Last Updated:August 20, 2025, 12:31 IST

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.

Pranesh M. (X)

With the dust around the Chennai Grandmasters starting to settle, the journey of Challengers winner Pranesh M is one to behold as the young man from Karaikudi went on to edge out stiff competition from seasoned campaigners to clinch the title in the Capital of Chess in dramatic fashion.

Pranesh, who entered the final round of the event leading the pack and requiring a positive result to sea the deal, ended up losing his final game against Harshavardha GB, and had to hope his closest competitors, Adhiban B and Abhimanyu Puranik suffered the same fate.

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And luckily for the 18-year-old, his wish came to pass and he clinched the title with 6.5 points, just half a point ahead of Adhiban and Puranik and Leon Luke Menoca, who all finihsed with 6 points apiece.

“I thought that the title had slipped away. The tiebreaker is a long process, and for all three leaders to lose our final games was something out of the box," a relieved Pranesh said following his triumph.

“I was watching the other games the whole time after my defeat," he added.

The teenager, a usually confident person per his own admittance, expressed that he was sure he’d make it to the event, but going on to win the entire tournament was something that was out of his imagination.

“I was sure I’d qualify to this event, but I wasn’t sure if I could clinch the title here. I’m usually confident that I can win stuff,"

“I came here on the back of the event in Romania, had a break of just two day,"

The prodigy, who is coached by the renowned RB Ramesh, the man who also coached Pragg, expressed his gratitude for the veteran trainer’s guidance and the tale of how he started to learn under the aegis of one of the nation’s most celebrated chess teachers.

“I started playing chess when I was five years of age. I used to play both carrom and chess, but when I started playing national level chess events, the interest took over ad Ramesh sir spotted me and trained me," he revealed.

“I kept winning national level events and my ratings reached the 1700-mark. Ramesh sir trained me thereon out and helped my clinch the U16 National championship," Pranesh added.

“The journey from 2100 to 2400 was rather quick and I became an IM," he said.

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The winner of the challenger section is also guaranteed a place in the Masters bracket at the event next year, and Pranesh appeared to be buzzing over the prospect of the same.

“Very excited for the Masters event. I thought I’d make it via the rating points, but it feel good to qualify as the winner of the challengers section," he added.

The youngster, who hails from Karaikudi, akin to the winner of the 2024 Masters section of the Chennai Grandmasters event Arvind Chidhambaram touched upon his camaraderie with his seniors and contemporaries.

“Arvind is from Karaikudi, and so is Sethuraman, they moved to Chennai. Arvind is one of my close friends, and we converese in a very friendly manner. Karthikeyan and Pragg are some of my other friends in the Chess world," he said.

The second-year Engineering student is slated to compete at the event in Fujairah, UAE up next and cites the World Championship title as his long-term vision.

“I feel I need to work on my openings and end games a bit more. I feel I’m alright in terms of calculations and tactics, I consider them my string suits," Pranesh reflected.

“My short term goal is the 2650 ELO Rating and my long term target is to become the World Champion," he concluded.

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August 20, 2025, 12:31 IST

News sports Who Is Pranesh M? Meet The Karaikudi Boy Who Stunned The Challengers Field At Chennai Gransmasters 2025

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