India, Dec. 13 -- R Praggnanandhaa spent his Friday evening engaging in some chess simul with a bunch of underprivileged kids from various schools in Mumbai's Dharavi, an area populated with slums. The turnover of around 400 overzealous children - some testing the strength of benches-turned-barricades to get a closer glimpse of the guest of honour - caught the young star by surprise.

In about four months' time, that young star will seek to add another feather to his growing stardom when he turns up as the only Indian at the 2026 Candidates.

The Women's Candidates will feature three Indians, but Pragg will be the only face from the country in the elite group of eight men that will fight to earn the right to play reigning champion D Gukes...