Magnus Carlsen’s wife reveals the Indian star who mirrors his chess style, and it’s not Gukesh: "Most similar to him"

In a revelation that has intrigued the global chess community, Magnus Carlsen’s wife, Ella Carlsen, has named the Indian player whose style on the board most closely resembles that of the Norwegian Grandmaster himself. And despite the recent spotlight on Gukesh D as the new World Champion, it’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa—not Gukesh—who Magnus believes mirrors his strategic DNA.

Magnus Carlsen’s chess twin? Praggnanandhaa takes the spotlight

Speaking during a ChessBase India livestream at the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, Ella Carlsen shed light on what Magnus Carlsen himself thinks about India’s rising trio—Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Praggnanandhaa. While she praised both Gukesh and Arjun for their humility and politeness off the board, she made it clear that Carlsen sees Praggnanandhaa as the one who plays “most similar to him.”

“All three (Gukesh, Pragg and Arjun) are very different, but Magnus did say that Pragg plays more similarly to him, the most similar to him,” Ella stated during the livestream.

This statement builds on the admiration Carlsen has previously expressed for Pragg—especially since their memorable encounter in the FIDE World Cup 2023, where the Indian prodigy reached the final, defeating elite names like Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and even fellow Indian star Arjun Erigaisi.

A growing mutual respect

Magnus Carlsen's subtle but clear respect for Praggnanandhaa has been evident for quite some time. After their FIDE World Cup clash, when Carlsen emerged victorious in the final, he still made it a point to acknowledge Pragg’s grit. Following one of Pragg’s major wins en route to the final, Carlsen was seen walking up to the teenager to personally pat him on the back—a rare gesture from the usually reserved Norwegian.

Ella also shared her impressions of the Indian talents on a personal level. She called Arjun Erigaisi “very sweet” but noted that over the board, he turns into a “maniac”—a comment Magnus himself echoed in a past interview with The Indian Express.

“Arjun was very sweet in person, but on the board, he’s a maniac,” she said with a laugh.

The future of chess runs through India

While Gukesh’s world title may have catapulted him to the top of global chess headlines, this comment from Ella Carlsen hints that Praggnanandhaa’s style and approach resonate more deeply with Magnus Carlsen’s own brand of intuitive, fearless, and creative chess. As India’s golden generation continues to rise, it’s becoming clearer that each prodigy brings something uniquely dangerous to the board.