Chennai Grandmasters: Smooth sailing for the new challenger in town

At the Challengers event of the recently concluded 2024 Chennai Grandmasters, big names such as GM Vaishali R, Harika Dronavalli, and Leon Mendonca were predicted to hog the headlines.

But it was the unheralded 18-year-old who stood tall and won the Challengers handsomely.

With four wins and three draws, GM Pranav went the entire tournament undefeated, an in doing so, the rookie booked himself a spot for the Masters event at the 2025 Chennai Grandmasters. 

'A smooth tournament'

Speaking about the tournament in an exclusive telephonic conversation with The Bridge, Pranav acknowledged that not too many mistakes were made.

"I think my tournament was pretty smooth. I won the first four games and drew the last three. And yeah, I think my play was also good in that I did not make many mistakes." 

The Challengers event was a new addition to the Chennai Grandmasters alongside the main Masters event, with eight players competing in a round-robin format and the winner being handed a spot in the following year's Masters event. 

"It's a very big thing to play in the Masters next year because it's also happening in Chennai. So I would get to participate here next year," he said. 

The tournament proved to be fruitful in other ways for Pranav with the teenager receiving valuable insights from the international players in the sidelines of the event. 

"I had the opportunity to talk with Levon Aronian during some of the dinners there and he gave me really good advice as to how to manage pressure while you are ahead in the tournament. That also helped me during the tournament," Pranav recalled. 

As far as handling pressure is concerned, it has become routine for the youngster.

"When I go to the game it's just thinking about how I play and all the stuff. I just think about it and I don't feel much pressure."

How it all began

Pranav's love affair with the game began with an accidental glimpse of the chess board at a relative's house when he was but a little boy.

"It started when I was seven years old. I went to a relative's house and I saw a chessboard and I liked it. That's how it all began for me," said Pranav. 

After an initial stint with coach Visweswaran, who trained Pranav from 2019-2022, the youngster embarked on a two-year phase during which he opted not to train with a coach.

His father chimed in a said the move was Pranav's call.

"He was working on fixing his weakness and learning new techniques. He wanted to see if he can do it by himself. Hence he did not use a coach."

Pranav, however, did get a Grandmaster coach in GM Shyam Sundar, under whom he has been hitting newer heights, the Challenger triumph being the latest. 

"It is good to have an experienced GM as a coach, he gives you well-rounded training and other required mentoring," he added. 

When Pranav became a Grandmaster on August 2022, he was the 27th from Tamil Nadu, a state known for producing the most chess prodigies in the country.

While attaining the GM norm is a turning point for several, for Pranav, there is another moment which grabs that mantle.

"I think the turning point I can say came this year when I won the Dubai Police Open 2024, which was a very strong tournament and that gave me a lot of confidence to play these kinds of tournaments and that victory helped me a lot to gain confidence."

'I am Pranav's first fan'

One of the reasons for Pranav's rise in such a short time has been the support of his parents, especially that of his father, who calls himself Pranav's first fan. 

"I can say that I am the first fan of Pranav. I like watching him as a spectator. To sit and watch him play and do well in a strong tournament like this is a huge gift for me. Seeing him perform well and showing growth in his knowledge and strength is the happiest moment for me," said Venkatesh, Pranav's father. 

He also spoke about creating the right environment for Pranav to ensure he keeps his mind relaxed before and after games, given how mentally taxing the games can be. 

"My role is to just keep him happy by providing him whatever he needs. During the match, it is going to be on him, but outside, we exercise and play some games and that's how I keep him calm. I suggest that he keeps himself hydrated, drink some coffee to keep himself energized," he added. 

While Pranav's father might be the first fan, there is every possibility that the teenager could be garnering more, given his progress on the competitive circuit.

In the land that is home to many a chess prodigy, Pranav now finds himself on the list as well. 

At just 18, he has his entire career ahead of him.

And if the victory at Chennai was any indicator of things to come, there is no doubt that the silent boy will be making a lot of noise in the years to come.