Praggnanandhaa wins UzChess Cup Masters 2025, becomes India No.1 in live ratings

GM R. Praggnanandhaa became the top-ranked Indian in the live ratings after winning the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Friday.

Praggnanandhaa was tied with home favourites Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov at 5.5 points after the round-robin stage.

After the first round of tiebreaks, a double round-robin blitz tournament, all three players had two points. However, the Indian edged the two Uzbek GMs in the second round to clinch the title.

Praggnanandhaa, with a live elo rating of 2778.3, gained three spots to move past compatriot and reigning classical chess world champion D. Gukesh (2776.6) to become the top-ranked Indian and World No. 4.

It is the third title of the year for Praggnanandhaa after his triumph at Tata Steel Chess Tournament and Grand Chess Tour Superbet Classic Romania. Earlies this month, he had finished second at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial.