Why Praggnanandhaa is now a more dangerous player than Magnus Carlsen, according to Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay

The 20-year-old chess prodigy has cemented his status as a global force after a dominant performance at the prestigious Norway Chess tournament.

The landscape of elite international chess has shifted significantly following Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa’s stunning victory at the Norway Chess tournament in Oslo. The 20-year-old’s emphatic performance, which included a clean sweep of four consecutive victories in the final stages of the event, has prompted high praise from veteran Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay. According to Thipsay, Praggnanandhaa has evolved into a more dangerous player than the legendary world number one, Magnus Carlsen.

A Masterclass in Evolution

Thipsay, an Arjuna awardee, suggests that while Praggnanandhaa was once primarily feared for his aggressive, attacking style, he has successfully rounded out his game. Opponents previously found ways to neutralize his tactical onslaughts, but the young Indian has spent recent months refining his defensive capabilities, positional understanding, and tactical precision. This multidimensional approach has transformed him into a formidable threat against even the most seasoned icons of the game.

Conquering the Super-Elite

The Norway Chess triumph marks a significant milestone in Indian sporting history, as Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to claim this specific super-elite title in its 14-year history. His path to victory was anything but easy; he secured wins against world champion D Gukesh, Vincent Keymer, Alireza Firouzja, and Magnus Carlsen himself. For the young star, the victory is particularly meaningful due to the caliber of the field, noting that the average rating in this tournament surpassed that of other major classical events like the Wijk Aan Zee competition.

The Hierarchy of Indian Chess

While India currently boasts a golden generation of talent, Thipsay maintains that Praggnanandhaa is the strongest Indian player at present, edging out both world champion D Gukesh and the highly-rated Arjun Erigaisi. This assessment comes as a stark contrast to the tournament standings, where Gukesh finished sixth in the six-player field. Despite a challenging start to his 2025 season, Praggnanandhaa’s resilience in Oslo has been described by experts as an extraordinary comeback that signals a new peak in his development.

As the global chess community turns its eyes toward the next circuit, the consensus is clear: the era of simply defending against the Indian contingent is over. With his recent clinical display against Carlsen and other top-tier grandmasters, Praggnanandhaa has transitioned from a promising prodigy into a player who dictates the tempo of the game, leaving his peers scrambling to find answers to his improved, multi-faceted strategy.