Monday 7 April 2025
“I am happy to have a great start this year” R. Praggnanandhaa
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For a prodigious chess talent like R. Praggnanandhaa, year 2024 was not a great year. He started the year with a seventh-place final in Tata Steel Masters Wijk ann Zee, then finished a disappointed fifth in the FIDA Candidates tournament in Toronto. His best performance was in Norway chess where he finished third.
However, in a remarkable display of skills and determination, R. Praggnanandhaa achieved victory this year in Tata Steel Masters 2025 held in Netherlands, defeating world champion D. Gukesh.
His truimph was celebrated, after his return in Chennai, where officials fromSports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) greeted him.
This victory is a significant milestone in Praggnanandhaa’s career as he overcame D Gukesh, the reigning World Champion. The intensity of the final match is captivating for the chess enthusiasts all over the world.
In his journey to this victory, Pragg acknowledged the influence of his peers, as they have motivated him greatly to improve his game.
“I didn’t have a great end to 2024. So I worked hard for it (the tournament). I’m happy to have such a great start this year. Gukesh also played well. It was an exciting tiebreaker. Results from other Indian chess players likeGukesh winning the world championshipor Arjun Erigaisi crossing 2800 ( Elo rating in classical chess) inspired me to work harder. Another reason was that I wasn’t happy with my game. I wanted to play better. so I kept practicing,” said Praggnanandhaa.
The final match against Gukhesh was an example of Pragg’s resilience and prowess. After losing the first game in the tiebreaker, he made a commendable comeback to secure 2-1 victory, clinching his first Tata Steel Masters title. This achievement made him the first Indian to win this title after Viswanathan Anand in 2006.
In 2016, Praggnanandhaa achieved a momentous milestone that earned him a place in the annals of chess history. At merely 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days old, he was bestowed with the title of International Master, making him the youngest player to ever achieve this feat.
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