Praggnanandhaa’s Turnaround Can Inspire Gukesh, Says Viswanathan Anand

Legendary Indian chess player Viswanathan Anand has praised R Praggnanandhaa for his Norway Chess title win , saying the youngster’s perseverance and aggressive fighting style have been key to his success.

Anand also suggested that current world champion D Gukesh, who had a modest outing at the tournament finishing sixth, should take inspiration from Praggnanandhaa to stage a turnaround in form . He noted that sustained hard work eventually leads to results, even when performances fluctuate.

“I am delighted that Praggnanandhaa has won Norway Chess in an impressive style. I am very happy at the spectacular turnaround in the last four rounds,” Anand said in comments to PTI. He highlighted that Praggnanandhaa’s approach reflects creative and ambitious chess concepts , backed by a consistent willingness to fight in every position.

According to Anand, the young grandmaster remains largely unchanged in style over the past year, but his recent results underline how momentum shifts can redefine outcomes in elite chess.

Discussing Gukesh, Anand said the world champion appears to be “stuck a bit” at present but stressed that such phases are normal. “At this moment, Praggnanandhaa is playing better than Gukesh but anything can change,” he observed, adding that form cycles are common at the top level.

Anand also pointed to the growing competitiveness among India’s top trio Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and Arjun Erigaisi saying they are pushing each other to higher standards in global chess.

He further noted that India now ranks among the top three chess nations , with around 95 Grandmasters and a strong pipeline of emerging talent. Anand added that the rise of both men’s and women’s chess players signals a broader transformation in Indian chess , even as global dominance remains historically competitive.