Behind the glory of Vaishali candidate is a 19-year-old boy named Pranesh

New Delhi: The Chennai Masters is an elite-level annual closed tournament held every year in what is widely considered the chess capital of India. It is divided into two parts: Masters Tournament and Challenge Tournament, where players from different countries are invited to compete together.Created in 2023, the tournament was only announced four days before it started, sparking criticism that the event was arranged at the last minute to help Dommaraju Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi qualify for the 2024 Candidates Championship. However, FIDE Vice President Viswanathan Anand It was explained that the organization of the competition was within the rules.2025 is the third edition. R Vaishali, who is currently attracting national attention, has been invited to participate in the Challenger Tournament, which includes players with a relatively lower level than the Masters. Winning the Challenger means qualifying for the next Masters. Vaishali Had a nightmare match and finally hit rock bottom, but that’s a story for another day. The winner of the Challenger bracket is Munirethinam Pranesh, the baby-faced assassin on the board.

The name Pranesh comes up again, having played a key role in Vasari’s victory in the Cyprus Candidates, helping her win the right to challenge China’s Ju Wenjun for the world title.

‘Interesting people’ in Vaishali camp

“It was basically the idea of ​​Mr. Ramesh and Aarti Aunty (WGM Aarti Ramaswamy and RB Ramesh’s wife) to take Pranesh in the Candidates match because he is a very friendly and interesting person,” Vaishali told ChessBase India after his historic win on Wednesday.In the intense environment of the Candidates Tournament, where dreams are realized or dashed over the course of 14 rounds, the psychological stress can be debilitating.

“The idea was that I would probably get nervous because there were a lot of tense moments and he would keep it light. That was the plan. And it happened,” Vasiali revealed. “There were a lot of high-pressure moments and a lot of tough games. Even after tough games, every time I got to his room, he’d say ‘It’s OK,’ and that’s his thing.”In addition to supporting her character mentally, Vaishali also revealed that they prepared some openings together, which shows that Pranesh is a tactical wizard in his own right and serves as both a sparring partner and a confidant. “He was extremely supportive throughout the tournament and we played a lot of table tennis and cricket,” she added.

Karakudi to Cyprus

The journey of the 19-year-old master is sometimes considered an ancient novel. Karaikudi is a small town in Tamil Nadu and the birthplace of Pranesh. The son of a mother who worked in anganwadi, taking care of underprivileged children, and a father who was an accountant in a textile store, Pranesh never let limited resources become an excuse.When he became an International Master (IM) in 2020, his coach RB Ramesh wrote on social media: “Before he (Pranesh) became an IM, he did not have access to a laptop to prepare for chess. Believe in yourself and destiny will entrust you. “In an era where elite chess is dominated by engine preparation, Pranesh’s rise is similar. However, he was too shy to call it a limitation.

“I’m not worried about what I don’t have,” Pranesh told TOI in an exclusive interaction after winning the Chennai Masters Challenger title. “I just think about what I have: my coaches, my parents, my books. Even previous generations didn’t have laptops and they still became masters.”With no digital resources, the boy from Karikudi taught himself through borrowed books, handwritten notes and old chess magazines.“I just learned from whatever I could find,” he recalls with great simplicity.

His connection with RB Ramesh

“When I was five years old, I was just running around making noise,” he recalls. “So my parents brought home chess and carrom. My brother played first and I followed him.”At the age of 11, he was already making a mark in the national championships and joined the Chess Gurukul Academy run by renowned coach RB Ramesh in Chennai.Ramesh, who has mentored the likes of R Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali, saw Pranesh’s spark early on. In 2023, he became India’s 79th grandmaster.A picture of Ramesh trying to lift Pranesh in celebration has surfaced online, aptly embodying the bond between master and student.“He was trying really hard to lift me,” Pranesh said with a laugh. “I’m a lot heavier now, so it must be difficult for him.”

unsung hero

Currently in third year of B.Sc. Pranesh studied Computer Science at SRM University where he balanced his studies with the rigor of professional chess.But his role in Cyprus is different. He doesn’t play for his own ratings or trophies. He exists to ensure that Vaishali does not buckle under the weight of history.Also read: Explained: How India’s R Vaishali imprisoned Lagno’s ‘dragon’ to claim historic Women’s Candidates title in 2026As the world watches Vasari prepare for her World Championship match against Ju Wenjun, the story of her success cannot be told without mentioning the youngster from Kalikudi.Pranesh M, who once learned chess without a laptop, now helped India to its first-ever women’s Candidates victory.