"I help Pragg evaluate his options and choose the best ones for his game..." — Pragg's Coach Joseph Girel

Joseph Girel

French GM

“It all started in June 2024. That’s when I met Ramesh, a renowned Indian coach. It happened during a training camp in Italy.

He invited me to try out as Praggnanandhaa’s second and asked me to send him some files I had prepared. Pragg had just finished fifth in the Candidates Tournament and wanted to completely change the composition of his team. He wasn’t looking for renowned experts or people with extensive experience, but for a fresh perspective on openings and an approach better suited to modern chess.

I had a very unique approach to opening preparation, and it worked. So, I became one of the first members of his new team.

Working with Pragg is my biggest project to date. Working with him daily allowed me to quickly understand what distinguishes an elite chess player. Before that, I already had a lot of experience working with players around 2600 Elo, who often do not understand their own playing style at all. They misused openings and regularly ended up in positions completely opposite to what they were aiming for.

It’s important not just to memorize opening lines. The key is to be able to use the opening in a way that best suits your own style.

Without going into detail, this is exactly what I work on with Pragg: helping him evaluate the various opening options and choose the ones that best suit his game.”