Sometimes, I feel I focus too much on chess: R Praggnanandhaa

OSLO: R Praggnandhaa may be an elite chess player, travelling the world and pitting board moves with the best in business, but he sometimes misses the things that would excite a regular 20-year-old.


“I don’t really regret it, but I would have loved to have some school friends or college friends back home,” he said here after his eighth round win over world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the Norway chess, “But when I’m going for something much bigger (top chess titles and excellence), I’m happy with how things are right now.”




Pragg’s mentor V Anand has always urged parents to think twice before allowing young chess prodigies to skip school or college education, as that helps shape a more well-rounded life with hobbies, friends and things beyond chess.
“Sometimes, I do feel that I focus too much on chess. There are some other things that I want to try,” said Pragg who held the record of being the world’s youngest ever International Master (IM) at age 10, “Having a break (from chess) or having a different hobby could help chess as well. It’s not like I don’t have (a hobby). Sometimes, I get excited by some books.”


Pragg conceded that hectic schedule has affected his play. “At some point, you are just burnt out. You don’t have energy. Even if you have physical energy, you just don’t have the mental energy to do it again and again. At some point it just becomes automatic that you just don’t enjoy it anymore. That’s why breaks are important,” he said.


Pragg said he had travelled to seven countries in three months at one point which is too much for anyone, especially if you are going to fight it over the board and not visiting as a tourist. “But it’s me who signed up for all these tournaments, so I have to take it.”


Pragg said he has decided to play less this year but added in the same breath that he could end up playing all important events.