Reigning world chess champion D Gukesh has expressed his desire to face fellow Indian R Praggnanandhaa in his maiden title defense. Speaking at the Prague International Chess Festival, Gukesh highlighted the appeal of an all-Indian showdown for fans. The comments come amid India's rising prominence in global chess.
At the Prague International Chess Festival, D Gukesh, the youngest world champion in history after winning the title in 2024, shared his preference for a challenger in the upcoming world championship cycle. "Personally, I would like to face Pragg. It would be an Indian clash, and it would be great for the Indian fans," Gukesh told Chessbase India, as reported in a ChessBase India video from February 24, 2026.
Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi have been central to India's rapid ascent in chess over the past two years. However, recent FIDE live ratings show a shift: Praggnanandhaa holds India No. 2, Gukesh is third, and Erigaisi leads the national rankings after overtaking Gukesh last year.
The rivalry between Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, both prodigies from Chennai, is intense on the board but amicable off it. Praggnanandhaa reflected on this dynamic in an interview with Curly Tales last year: "I started playing before him. I was already stronger when I was growing up in my age category." He added, "When we are off the board, we are just normal guys."
Describing their playing styles, Praggnanandhaa noted differences: "He is more calculation-based, trying to find the truth in the position, and going deep into every possible continuation." In contrast, he said, "I also go deep into the position, but I have my intuition guiding me… I think I am a more technical player while he is more of an aggressive and calculation-based player."
American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana has also praised Praggnanandhaa, positioning him as a top contender for the Candidates Tournament this year. "I would put Pragg quite high among the favourites… last year he showed he can win top tournaments. That elevates him more than the current ratings," Caruana said.
Gukesh's comments underscore the growing excitement around Indian chess talent ahead of the Candidates Tournament, though he refrained from naming overall favorites.
