Chess World Cup final: Tie-breaker to decide the champion as Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen draw the 2nd game

Magnus Carlsen and R Praggnanandhaa found themselves locked in a tense Classical second game yesterday (August 23), that ended in a draw again at the FIDE World Cup 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

With two Classical format games behind them, it is apparent that a tie-breaker would be the ultimate decider of the final contest.

The shortest game yet

• The second game played under classical time control after the first ended in a draw on Wednesday (August 22), turned out to be the shortest for both Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa throughout the entire competition.
• World number 1 Carlsen's opening moves with white led to all four knights marching into action within the first three moves, making it clear that the game was headed for an early finish.

• By the time both had completed the mandatory 30 moves before a draw offer could be made, each had a bishop and six pawns.
• Uncharacteristically, Carlsen, known for his aggressive play, decided to settle for a quick draw.
• The early finish, with both players having more than an hour on the clock, might have allowed them to regroup and return on Thursday.

Tie-breakers await

• With both the Classical games failing to name a winner, the stage is now set for the tie-breakers.
• The next rounds will involve rapid-format games with time controls of 25 minutes each, plus a 10-second increment per move.
• If this doesn't yield a result, they will move to 10-minute games, still with a 10-second increment per move.
• And if the still deadlock persists, the battle will descend into blitz mode, where a single game with a 3-minute time control and a 2-second increment per move will decide it all.
• This format will repeat until a clear winner emerges.

Wellness woes

• Carlsen who had been recovering from an upset stomach since the semis, said, "I still didn't feel like I had the energy for a full fight, so I thought, let's get one more day of rest."
• Pragg acknowledged the decision related to Carlsen's health, stating, "Mainly, it was due to his bad health because it is very rare to see Magnus playing for a draw with white pieces."
• Praggnanandhaa himself was feeling exhausted, having already played numerous tie-break games in the tournament. He commented, "Now I can give everything for tomorrow (Thursday) and relax after that."

• Pragg who had been playing knock-outs every day now, also flagged the need for a rest day before the finals, urging organisers to look into it in the future.
• Praggnanandhaa, showing respect for the seasoned Norwegian, acknowledged that Carlsen's reputation remains intact, saying, "Magnus is the favourite in any format, even in bullet (1-minute game). Anything can happen, so I'll give my best and see."
• Carlsen, on the other hand, while feeling a bit better than the previous day, admitted that he still lacked the energy for a full-fledged battle. He opted for the draw to conserve his strength for the tie-breakers, hoping to recover fully by Thursday (August 24). "If I have the energy, if I have a good day, obviously, I will have a good chance," he added.

Pragg, who reached the final by defeating world no 2 and 3 in time-bound deciders will look to carry his streak for the title.

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