Praggnanandhaa's family feels 'proud' over his second youngest chess grandmaster title

Chennai-based Tamil Nadu R Praggnanandhaa, 12, has become the youngest Indian Grandmaster and the second youngest overall in Chess by earning his third Grand Master norm during the Gredine Open in Italy. His family is proud over his achievement.

"We never forced him to join the game. It is a joyous moment for all of us. We are proud of him," Praggnanandhaa father Ramesh Babu told ANI.

He got his third Grand Master at the age of 12 years and 10 months.

After being paired with Dutch Grand Master Roeland Pruijssers for the final round, Praggnanandhaa was assured of a third norm irrespective of the result of the match. He is placed joint-top on the table at the end of 8 rounds, with 6.5 points.

Praggnanandhaa won his first Grand Master norm at the World Junior Championships in Tarvisio in November 2017. He achieved his second norm by winning the Herkalion Fischer Memorial Grand Master Norm tournament in Greece in April earlier this year.

He missed out on becoming the youngest ever by three months with Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine holding the record of being the youngest Grandmaster in the world at 12 years, 7 months - a feat achieved in 2002.