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Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa lost the FIDE World Cup final to world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen after drawing the second tie-breaker at Baku on Thursday. This came after the first match was won by Carlsen, after which the 18-year-old agreed to a tie-breaker.
In the second tie-break game with a time control of 25+10, the game concluded in a draw after 22 moves. The renowned Norwegian chose a conservative approach, especially after clinching the first game with his exemplary endgame prowess.
This marks Carlsen's inaugural World Cup victory, complementing his five World Championship titles.
In the initial tie-break game, Carlsen faced rigorous competition from his 18-year-old Indian adversary, triumphing in 45 moves. Despite the inventive strategies of Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen managed to reverse the situation in his favor.
The pair had previously drawn in their two classical games on Tuesday and Wednesday, necessitating the tie-break decider.
Praggnanandhaa showcased a stellar performance throughout the championship. He defeated top-tier players like world No.2 Hikaru Nakamura and world No.3 Fabiano Caruana, earning his spot in the finals opposite Carlsen.
This tournament's outcomes also ensured Praggnanandhaa's place in the 2024 Candidates tournament, slated to occur in Canada.
Consequently, Praggnanandhaa has etched his name as the third-youngest player to qualify for the Candidates, following in the footsteps of chess legends Bobby Fischer and Carlsen.
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