Home
R Praggnanandhaa's rise in the chess world has been nothing short of meteoric. Recently, he etched his name into the annals of chess history by becoming only the second Indian chess prodigy, following the illustrious footsteps of the legendary Viswanathan Anand, to secure a place in the FIDE Chess World Cup final. This remarkable achievement came after a riveting semi-final bout where he outmaneuvered Fabiano Caruana with a score of 3.5-2.5.
Awaiting him in this grand arena is none other than the five-time world champion, Magnus Carlsen. Hailing from Norway, Carlsen is not just a former World Chess Champion five times over but is also the reigning four-time World Rapid Chess Champion and a six-time World Blitz Chess Champion. His formidable presence in the chess sphere was solidified when he clinched the top spot in the FIDE world chess rankings back in 2011. Only the iconic Garry Kasparov has retained this coveted position longer than Carlsen.
The Carlsen-Praggnanandhaa rivalry has been a captivating watch for chess enthusiasts. They've squared off 19 times in various tournaments. Carlsen might have a slight upper hand overall, but the records show a commendable performance by the young Indian sensation. In classical chess formats, the score stands even with a drawn game between them. In the more fast-paced Rapid and Exhibition matches, Carlsen maintains a 7-5 lead, with six games ending in a stalemate.
While historical data leans slightly towards the Norwegian grandmaster, recent performances from Praggnanandhaa inject a sense of hope and anticipation for his supporters. At the age of 18, Praggnanandhaa became the youngest player to defeat Carlsen post his 2013 World Championship victory. This monumental win was witnessed at the Airthings Masters online rapid chess tournament in February 2022. A mere three months later, the young maestro repeated this feat at the Chessable Masters online rapid chess tournament, garnering widespread accolades.
Yet, perhaps the most awe-inspiring victory lap for Praggnanandhaa was during the 2022 FTX Crypto Cup. Here, he astounded the chess community by defeating the mighty Carlsen in three consecutive games: one rapid and two blitz encounters. As the Chess World Cup showdown looms, all eyes will be on these two remarkable players, eager to witness the next chapter in this electrifying rivalry.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
Pulisic shines in AC Milan debut, assisting Rossoneri's victory over Bologna in Serie A kickoff
