Riding a wave of exceptional performances, Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa took the chess world by storm on August 21 by defeating world No.3 Fabiano Caruana 3.5-2.5 in a gripping tie-break during the FIDE World Cup chess tournament's semifinals. This victory sets the stage for a thrilling final against Magnus Carlsen, the world's top-ranked player from Norway.
The intense classical series between Praggnanandhaa and Caruana concluded with a tie score of 1-1. However, the 18-year-old Indian prodigy showcased his superior strategy and composure by outplaying the renowned American Grandmaster in a nail-biting tie-breaker.
Awaiting Praggnanandhaa in the final is the formidable five-time titleholder, Carlsen, who secured his position by overcoming Azerbaijan's Nijat Abasov 1.5-0.5 in their semifinal encounter.
Earning a place in the elite Candidates tournament, Praggnanandhaa joins the ranks of chess legends Bobby Fischer and Carlsen as the third youngest player to achieve this milestone.
Expressing his surprise and determination, he remarked, "I didn't expect to play Magnus in this tournament at all... I will just try to give my best and see how it goes!," adding, "It feels really good to qualify for the Candidates; I really wanted to fix this spot."
Reflecting on Praggnanandhaa's triumph, chess maestro Viswanathan Anand praised on 'X' (previously known as Twitter), "Pragg goes through to the final! He beats Fabiano Caruana in the tiebreak and will face Magnus Carlsen now. What a performance!"
During the tie-break's initial phase, Praggnanandhaa demonstrated resilience by holding Caruana to a draw, a momentum that carried into the second rapid game, propelling the contest to the 10'+10' series.
Notably, Praggnanandhaa's journey in the World Cup has been nothing short of spectacular, marked by victories over heavyweights such as world No.2 Hikaru Nakamura and fellow Indian, Arjun Erigaisi.
Renowned chess coach R B Ramesh and former women's world No.1, Susan Polgar, were among many who lauded the young Indian Grandmaster on 'X'.
Sanjay Kapoor, AICF president, expressed his exhilaration, stating, "Indian chess lovers can't wait for the Final as it promises to be one RED HOT Contest with World no.1 @MagnusCarlsen on the other side!"
By reaching the World Cup's semifinals, Praggnanandhaa not only emulated Viswanathan Anand's feat but also ensured his participation in the 2024 Candidates event, which will determine the next challenger to the reigning world champion, Ding Liren of China.
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