India, Nov. 10 -- "Pranav is buddy and buddy is Pranav."

In a single post on social media from over two years ago, world No.1 and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen had announced to the world the growing threat of Pranav Venkatesh.

The teenager from Tamil Nadu, nicknamed 'Buddy,' had helped Carlsen stay in the race for the only hurdle he had not quite conquered at the time - winning a title at a team event.

Now 19, Pranav has simply grown from strength to strength. Last December, he won gold medals in the Under-18 section of the World Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship. In March, his stock continued to grow when he became the fourth Indian man to win the Junior World Chess Championship.

And over the weekend in Goa, at a ven...