Pragg increases FIDE Circuit lead

World No. 4 Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, thanks to a tie for the first place in the Grand Chess Tour’s Sinquefield Cup, increased his lead over second placed Dutchman Anish Giri in the FIDE Circuit 2025, a qualification path for the next Candidates. By taking the second place at St.Louis, Pragg moved on to 107.00 points well ahead of Anish Giri (52.77) and Nodirbek Abdusattorov (50.78) on the FIDE Circuit table.

In view of his fine form in 2025, the chess world would expect Pragg to take podium in the FIDE Grand Swiss, Samarkand and the FIDE World Cup, Goa which would clear the path for his immediate rivals in the FIDE Circuit 2025. It would make the race for the Candidates 2026 spot more exciting with Anish and Abdusattorov having a realistic chance to make the cut.

Image Courtesy: FIDE (International Chess Federation)

Starting the year strongly claiming the title at Tata Steel Wijk aan Zee defeating World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju on tie-breaks, Pragg has continued his golden run this season. After winning the “Wimbledon of Chess”, the Indian Grandmaster excelled in Prague Masters, Superbet Poland, Superbet Classic Romania, Stepan Avagyan Memorial Armenia, UzChess Cup Uzbekistan and is now all set to conquer the South American soil flying to Sao Paulo, Brazil for the Grand Chess Tour finals starting by 28th September, 2025.

The only player so far to confirm his place in the next Candidates is the former world championship challenger GM Fabiano Caruana (USA) who topped the FIDE Circuit race in 2024 narrowly edging out Indian Grandmaster Erigaisi Arjun.

The seven remaining Candidates spots are decided through:

(a) three from FIDE World Cup 2025
(b) two from FIDE Grand Swiss 2025
(c) one from FIDE Circuit 2025
(d) one by Rating

FIDE Circuit 2025 regulations

Official link: https://www.fide.com/fide-circuit-2025/