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Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa could not get the better of Magnus Carlsen in the tie-break to win the FIDE Chess World Cup but he inspired many by locking horns with the world No.1. Despite the defeat, the 18-year-old boy is touted as the successor to five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand. Also, in a cricket-crazy nation, he made breaking news and to the front page of leading dailies on the back of his performances at Baku, Azerbaijan.
In an interview with India Today, Praggnanandhaa did not show any remorse and was content with the way he approached the final against the five-time World Championship winner and Norwegian superstar Carlsen.
“The first game was the important one where it went wrong. I had a solid position but I spoiled it a bit in a time crunch. And then in the second game, I did not get enough chances. I had to win in the must-win game with black which is not easy. He (Carlsen) is also very experienced in such situations. I could have put up a better fight but we have been playing here for four weeks already. I am very happy to be able to be able to play in the finals,” the teenager said.
He was asked whether Carlsen going for a draw after suffering from food poisoning made it tough for him to win.
“I don't think it mattered today. I still had enough time. We were both preparing for today. It has already been close to a month. We are pretty much exhausted. I wanted to be in the best shape today. I guess I was but sometimes don't go in your way,” he said.
Praggnanandhaa also said that it was a blessing he had his mother with him on the tour for moral support and home-cooked food.
“I prefer not eating too much outside food, especially in other countries because it can get you sick. That happened to Magnus two days back. For me, home-cooked food is always best,” he said.
The prodigy was happy with the ripples created back home by his performance in the FIDE World Cup.
“I heard some numbers and it feels really good. I am very happy that more and more people are interested in chess,” an ecstatic Praggnanandhaa said.
Head of the Indian Chess Federation Sanjay Kapoor feels that the golden era of chess has just started. Also, he had an appeal to young children in India and their parents.
“I have a dream that one child in every household should play chess. Not professionally, but it is very good for the mind. Children are playing video games today but I want every child to play chess. When you go play video games, you go blank, dumb. When you play chess it sharpens your mind. For India, the mind needs to grow,” Kapoor said.
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