Pranav Venkatesh, 2025 World Junior Champion, clinches Fujairah Global Chess title ahead of Grand Swiss challenge | Chess News

Pranav V (Photo Credits: X)

Pranav Venkatesh emerged victorious in the Superstars section of Fujairah Global Chess 2025. He entered the final round with a half-point lead over Sanan Sjugirov and Amin Tabatabaei.Despite needing only a draw to secure the top prize, Pranav played aggressively with white pieces and won his final game, finishing with 7/9 points. Throughout the tournament, he defeated Nihal Sarin, Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli, Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara, M. Amin Tabatabaei, and Alan Pichot, while drawing against Aydin Suleymanli, Sanan Sjugirov, Brandon Jacobson, and Abhimanyu Mishra.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The inaugural Fujairah Global Chess Championship 2025 is being hosted at the Fujairah Chess & Culture Club in UAE from August 24 to September 1, 2025. The event, under Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi’s patronage, is FIDE-recognised and offers qualification points for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.The tournament featured over 530 players from more than 70 countries competing in three categories, with a total prize fund of $125,000. The Fujairah Chess & Culture Club, known as the “Fortress of Minds,” is a modern facility featuring the world’s largest chess queen statue.Pranav is set to compete in the Grand Swiss tournament in three days.Prior to this victory, Pranav, the 2025 World Junior Champion, secured a spot in the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss through an unexpected match at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. He defeated 2024 champion GM Kazybek Nogerbek 1.5-0.5 in what FIDE termed the “Asian Wildcard Match”.The 18-year-old Chennai player, who had initially missed qualification by rating, competed in a two-game match organised by the Asian Chess Federation. He achieved his victory with a draw playing Black and won a challenging rook endgame with White pieces.Pranav will now join fellow Indian players D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa in Samarkand, alongside international stars like Alireza Firouzja and Ian Nepomniachtchi.Final five of Fujairah Global Chess 2025