Mumbai, Dec 8, 2025

India’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa was on Monday declared winner in the FIDE Circuit 2025, thus securing his qualification as the only Indian man in next year’s Candidates tournament to be played next year.

FIDE, the sport’s world governing body, announced this via a social media post on Monday, informing that the young Grandmaster from Chennai is the most successful male player from India this year, bagging titles at the Tata Steel Masters, Superbet Chess Classic Romania, UzChess Cup Masters, and London Chess Classic Open.

“Praggnanandhaa R. has won the FIDE Circuit 2025, securing a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament! Congratulations to @rpraggnachess, who deservedly earned one of the eight slots in the 2026 Candidates,” FIDE said in a post on X, formerly Twitter

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