Levon Aronian on how Praggnanandhaa fixed his weakness to win GCT Finals

American Grandmaster Levon Aronian said he is surprised by how quickly Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa turned his blitz and rapid weaknesses into strengths, helping the Indian win the Grand Chess Tour Finals title last Thursday in St Louis. Aronian, who beat Praggnanandhaa in last year's GCT Finals third-place match, noted the young Indian's progress in those formats. Praggnanandhaa defeated Fabiano Caruana 15-13, winning both rapid games and drawing the blitz section, becoming the first Indian champion in the event's history. Aronian praised Praggnanandhaa as a fighter and likeable person, while Viswanathan Anand separately called him the current number one player in the world, citing his ability to win late games and stage turnarounds.