R. Praggnanandhaa has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the top-ranked chess player in India in live ratings. This feat was accomplished after winning the UzChess Cup Masters in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The 19-year-old grandmaster's live rating has surged to 2778.3, propelling him to the World No. 4 position, surpassing even the reigning world champion, D. Gukesh, in the live classical ratings.

Praggnanandhaa's victory at the UzChess Cup Masters was hard-earned. He trailed behind local favorites Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov for much of the tournament. However, a crucial final-round win against Abdusattorov with the Black pieces secured him a tie for first place. In a display of character, he then won his third tiebreak of the year to clinch the title.

D. Gukesh, the reigning world champion, now holds the second position among Indian chess players in the live rankings. He is currently ranked fifth in the world with a live rating of 2776.6. Arjun Erigaisi, who was previously the highest-ranked Indian player, has slipped to sixth place in the live rankings.

The top three positions in the world rankings are currently held by Magnus Carlsen of Norway (2839.2), followed by American grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura (2807.0) and Fabiano Caruana (2784.2). Veteran Viswanathan Anand is currently India No. 4 and occupies the 13th position in the live rankings. Aravindh Chithambaram is India No. 5, ranked 24th globally.

This achievement marks a significant moment in Indian chess history, signifying a generational shift with Praggnanandhaa's emergence as the nation's new chess leader. It is a symbolic passing of the torch, as he overtakes his peers in a discipline where experience often trumps youth.

Praggnanandhaa's coach, R.B. Ramesh, revealed that they had been working on incorporating more adventurous play into his style. He noted that Praggnanandhaa has been adding new openings and trying a greater variety of openings in games.

Earlier in the year, Praggnanandhaa had also won the Tata Steel Masters, becoming the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the title since 2006. He defeated D. Gukesh in stunning fashion to claim the title. He stated that the win was very important for his confidence.

With three Indians now in the world's top six, the chess landscape in the country is undergoing a significant transformation. The friendly rivalry between Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh is adding an exciting chapter to their continuous climb in the FIDE rankings. As India's top-ranked player and one of the youngest ever to reach the top 5 globally, Praggnanandhaa is not just carrying forward Anand's legacy; he's building one of his own. Indian chess now enters a new era, with Praggnanandhaa at its helm.