In a nail-biting encounter at the FIDE Chess World Cup held in Baku, Azerbaijan, young chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa showcased exceptional prowess, finishing runner-up after challenging the reigning World No 1, Magnus Carlsen. This momentous achievement was lauded by his father, Rameshbabu, who voiced the family's unyielding support for the young talent. "We never put any kind of pressure on him. I am very happy with his performance,” Ramesh revealed in a conversation with PTI Bhasha from Chennai.
The 18-year-old chess sensation's performance left many in awe. “He is just 18 and he was playing against the world number one, and finishing runner-up to him is no mean feat,” Ramesh stated proudly. In keeping with their humble celebrations, Ramesh shared that the family typically visits a temple post his son's victories, indicating their plans to continue the tradition upon Praggnanandhaa's return from an upcoming tournament in Germany.
The story of Praggnanandhaa's introduction to chess began at home, with his elder sister Vaishali. "My daughter Vaishali used to watch TV a lot when she was young. So, we introduced chess to her. Praggnanandhaa followed her sister and he never looked back," Ramesh reminisced, admitting neither parent was familiar with the intricacies of the game.
Praggnanandhaa's brilliant showing at the FIDE World Cup now ensures his spot in the coveted Candidates tournament, aimed at identifying a challenger for the world championship title, currently held by Ding Liren.
Ramesh, expressing his surprise and delight, commented, "I was not expecting such a great performance. But he played exceptionally well and improvised match by match.”
This chess triumph comes closely on the heels of another national achievement – the successful soft landing of Chandrayan 3 on the lunar South Pole. The dual successes have swelled national pride, with Ramesh musing, "Yesterday it was the success of Chandrayan 3, and now Praggnanandhaa's silver at FIDE World Cup…it's a proud moment for all of us. Both success stories have given us reason to celebrate and feel proud."
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