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The Invisible Hand Behind Chess Phenom
3 Apr
Summary
- Vaibhav Suri is the primary architect of R Praggnanandhaa's preparation.
- Prasenjit Dutta, FM, coached Vaibhav Suri for nine hours daily.
- Suri's intense focus and energy defined his chess journey from a young age.
Vaibhav Suri, India's 27th Grandmaster, is now the primary architect behind the preparation of chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa. This dedication means Suri has paused his former mentorship ritual with his own coach, FM Prasenjit Dutta.
Dutta, who operates a renowned chess academy in New Delhi, nurtured Suri from a young age. He recalls training Suri for nine hours daily, noting the young student's extraordinary energy and intense passion for the game. Suri's devotion was such that he kept his chess set close even during sleep.
Suri's journey, as recounted by Dutta, began with financial hurdles preventing Dutta from competing internationally in his youth. However, Dutta persevered, becoming a state champion and university medalist before relocating to Delhi to coach. This move was facilitated by the Delhi Chess Association President, Bharat Singh Chauhan.
Under Dutta's guidance, Suri developed a solid positional style and immense confidence, becoming India's 27th Grandmaster in 2012. These traits—calmness, lack of ostentation, and deep calculation—make him an ideal 'second' for Praggnanandhaa in modern chess, acting as a sparring partner, analyst, and psychological anchor.
