'My play is not on the same level as it used to be': Praggnanandhaa opens up on his poor show in recent events

Indian chess star R Praggnanandhaa has admitted that his form has dipped in recent months, saying his level of play is not the same as it used to be. The 20-year-old made the honest assessment after a demanding run of tournaments that saw him compete almost non-stop through 2025.

Praggnanandhaa enjoyed a brilliant first half of the year, winning major titles such as the Tata Steel Masters, the Superbet Chess Classic Romania and the Uzchess Cup. However, his momentum slowed towards the end of the year, when he witnessed a dip in his performances at the Grand Chess Tour finals, the World Cup in Goa, and the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Doha.

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Praggnanandhaa on 2026 Candidates

With the 2026 Candidates tournament approaching, the timing of this slump has raised questions. However, Praggnanandhaa insisted he is not worried. According to him, playing continuous tournaments has affected his overall performance, as there has been very little time to reflect or work on specific areas of his game.

"No, not really. I’m not thinking about the Candidates. It’s certainly my play; it’s not on the same level as it used to be. Lately, I haven’t played up to my best. So, there are certainly areas to work on. I believe it’s partially due to playing continuous tournaments. There’s just no time to even think about what’s going on. But I think the chess calendar is such that the important tournaments just keep coming," Pragg was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

At the Rapid section of the 2026 Tata Steel Chess India in Kolkata, Praggnanandhaa finished sixth with 4.5 points in a 10-player field and never really challenged for the title. His Blitz campaign also had a mixed start, with early losses and a few draws before he managed a win against Arjun Erigaisi and a draw against Viswanathan Anand. He again took the sixth spot in the Blitz with 9.5 points.

Praggnanandhaa said he is relieved to finally have a break. After the Tata Steel Masters in Wijk aan Zee, he will have February and March free, giving him valuable time to rest and prepare for the Candidates. He believes the two-month gap will help him regroup and return to his best form.

"After Wijk aan Zee, I have my calendar free for February and March before the Candidates. So I’ll have time to prepare. It’s good to have a break before the Candidates, as I have been playing a lot. It’s certainly an important year for everyone. It’s the Candidates and World Championship year, so I’ll be focusing on it and trying to give my best," he said.

Nihal Sarin won the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid event, while Viswanathan Anand and Arjun Erigaisi finished second and third, respectively. Wesley So won the Blitz event, with Sarin and Erigaisi finishing second and third.