INDIA: In the eighth round of the ongoing Airthings Masters — an online rapid chess competition – young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa startled world champion, Magnus Carlsen.
On Monday, Praggnanandhaa ended Carlsen’s three-game winning streak by winning a Tarrasch variation game with black pieces in 39 moves. After a strong opening day of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, Carlsen had come across as the youngest player in the tournament.
After losing three games in a row, this was Praggnanandhaa’s first win in any kind of chess.
“I think it’s about just going to bed,” FIDE’s website quoted Praggnanandha after his spectacular win.
In the quick competition, the Indian Grandmaster has drawn with Anish Giri and Quang Liem Le. However, he has lost against Eric Hansen, Ding Liren, Jan-Kryzstof Duda, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.
R Praggnanandhaa is in tied 12th place in the ongoing Airthings Masters after eight rounds with eight points.
Chess Prodigy R Praggnanandhaa
R Praggnanandhaa, a young Indian Grandmaster, is from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His father, K Rameshbabu, is a bank employee and the family’s primary breadwinner.
Praggnanandhaa, the second-youngest Grandmaster in chess history, has been to 31 nations so far to compete in various chess events.
His mother Nagalakshmi, a homemaker, and his elder sister Vaishali, who is also an International Master, are among the other members of the young chess champion’s family.
Since 2019, the investment business WestBridge Capital has launched the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy, where the former Indian World Champion has been mentoring some of India’s finest juniors, including Vaishali and Pragg.
“I am thrilled that in many of his games, he has gone for the openings that we have discussed in the group,” Anand says of Pragg’s progress under his tutelage. “It’s crucial because you’ll need weapons even if you don’t fight. To display your finest, you need the perfect places.”
Pragg’s triumph over Carlsen has elicited praise from a wide range of sources, including some of India’s most well-known sports figures.
Also Read: Abhimanyu Mishra Becomes The Youngest Grandmaster At 12
