Exclusive | ‘Very surprising’: Indian World Junior Champ’s Grand Swiss entry has a wild backstory

 In a surprise twist, India’s 2025 World Junior Champion Pranav Venkatesh has earned a wildcard entry to the prestigious 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss after defeating Kazakhstan’s GM Kazybek Nogerbek 1.5–0.5 in an unpublicised ‘Asian Wildcard Match’ in Al Ain, UAE. Pranav, who narrowly missed qualifying by rating, now joins an elite field chasing a spot in the 2026 Candidates. In a surprise twist, India’s 2025 World Junior Champion Pranav Venkatesh has earned a wildcard entry to the prestigious 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss after defeating Kazakhstan’s GM Kazybek Nogerbek 1.5–0.5 in an unpublicised ‘Asian Wildcard Match’ in Al Ain, UAE. Pranav, who narrowly missed qualifying by rating, now joins an elite field chasing a spot in the 2026 Candidates.