BENGALURU: The Lalit Ashok hotel in Bengaluru has become the epicenter of the chess world this week as the Global Chess League (GCL) unfolds, but amidst the star-studded lineup of global icons, it is a 20-year-old replacement player who is currently stealing the spotlight. Chennai-born Grandmaster Pranesh M arrived at the tournament as a late substitute for Vladimir Fedoseev on the Mumba Masters’ board two, and in a few short days, he has transformed himself from a last-minute addition into the league’s most compelling breakout star.
A Masterclass at the Board
Pranesh’s performance in the GCL has been nothing short of clinical. After announcing his arrival with a statement victory over the formidable Anish Giri on the opening day, he followed up with a dismantling of Levon Aronian. Utilizing a precise Sicilian setup, Pranesh exploited an over-ambitious kingside pawn push from the veteran Grandmaster, showcasing the kind of calculated endgame execution that usually belongs to players with twice his experience.
“I think in the opening I kind of outplayed him,” Pranesh noted in an exclusive conversation with TimesofIndia.com. “He went for g5, which was a slight mistake. It just looked so bad for him. I had clear plans, and it’s hard to play faster than one moves.”
When asked if he felt intimidated by the elite caliber of opponents on board two, the youngster dismissed the notion with a confident grin. “I’m just feeling really happy. I think I can actually compete with them.”
Building Momentum
Pranesh’s GCL form is no fluke; it is the culmination of a stellar year. In August, he claimed an outright victory at the Kanizsa Open in Hungary, remaining unbeaten through nine rounds and successfully pushing his FIDE rating into the world’s top 50. His trajectory has been meteoric, yet he remains grounded, attributing his success to his roots in the Chess Gurukul ecosystem, where he trained alongside peers like R. Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram.
The training sessions, led by the renowned RB Ramesh, have been rigorous. “The purpose was to make us stronger,” Pranesh explained. “Each class would involve really difficult, interesting puzzles to test our decision-making.”
The “Confidant” Behind the Scenes
Beyond his own accolades, Pranesh gained significant attention earlier this year for his role as GM Vaishali Rameshbabu’s second during her historic run to the Women’s Candidates title. While coach RB Ramesh and his wife Aarthie initially brought Pranesh in to help lighten the mood for the notoriously serious Vaishali, he quickly became an indispensable part of her success.
“Mainly, Vaishali akka gets really serious during the game, and after the game, she’ll be wondering where she made a mistake,” Pranesh said. “I’ll just tell her, ‘Don’t care; even if you don’t blunder, you’ll win the tournament.’ I was just being myself.”
His relationship with the Rameshbabu family runs deep, dating back to when he was an 1800-rated player. Despite the intense scrutiny that followed the siblings during the dual-Candidates tournament in April, Pranesh was quick to debunk rumors that he was playing an official role in Praggnanandhaa’s team. “It’s just rumours,” he clarified. “I was just part of Vaishali’s team, but I was talking with both of them.”
The “India Factor” in Global Chess
The GCL has provided a unique vantage point for Pranesh to observe the growth of the game in India. He noted that the atmosphere, electric with chanting fans, has left his international teammates in a state of bewilderment.
“The foreigners are just wondering, ‘What is this India?'” he said, referencing his American teammate, Carissa Yip. “She told me she’s never seen something like this in the US. Every strong player is coming here, even Magnus (Carlsen). It’s a big achievement for the country.”
As for whether he will join Vaishali for her upcoming Women’s World Championship match, Pranesh remains coy, laughing off the suggestion while acknowledging his uncertainty regarding the schedule. However, given his rapid rise and tactical maturity, his presence—either as a second or a fellow competitor—is likely to remain a fixture on the global stage for years to come.
For now, the focus is entirely on the GCL. With a rating now at 2674 and his sights firmly set on the 2700 milestone, Pranesh M is no longer just a footnote in the Mumba Masters’ lineup; he is a player the rest of the world is starting to watch very closely.
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