Praggnanandhaa's remarkable run comes to an end as Carlsen claims first Chess World Cup title

The gripping finale of the FIDE Chess World Cup 2023 concluded with a tinge of disappointment for 18-year-old Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, as the Norwegian chess master and reigning world number one, Magnus Carlsen, secured his first-ever championship title.

Magnus Carlsen's victory came after an intense and protracted tiebreaker on Thursday, necessitated by R Praggnanandhaa's impressive performance. Praggnanandhaa held the top-ranked player in the world to two consecutive high-tension draws, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown.

R Praggnanandhaa's World Cup journey

While Magnus Carlsen ultimately prevailed against the young Indian, R Praggnanandhaa's journey through the tournament was nothing short of remarkable. Even before reaching the tense final against Magnus Carlsen, he etched his presence with a series of shrewd strategies.

His route to the final saw him expertly navigate encounters, including a duel against Fabiano Caruana, the world's third-ranked player. Praggnanandhaa's tactical finesse led to a condensed time-control match, in which he triumphed in the tiebreaker, clinching victory with a score of 3.5-2.5.

This achievement firmly cements his place in the annals of chess history.

The ultimate showdown

In the culmination of events, the prodigious talent R Praggnanandhaa faced off against the reigning Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen in the FIDE World Cup final on August 22. The eagerly awaited inaugural match of the championship ended in a riveting draw after 35 moves, ensuring that this clash would be remembered as one of the most intense in chess history.

An unconventional final

The first tie

Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa engaged in two heart-stopping draws before heading into the high-stakes tiebreaker on Thursday.

In the initial game, Praggnanandhaa, playing as white, known for his inventive opening moves, surprised Carlsen by opting for the unconventional c4 as his opening maneuver.

This unexpected choice momentarily caught the reigning world champion off guard.

While navigating through Praggnanandhaa's early moves, Carlsen expended 28 minutes on a single move, indicating initial challenges. However, Carlsen swiftly regrouped, relying on his expertise and intuition to execute what he termed "common sense moves" as the game progressed.

Despite trailing in time throughout the match, Praggnanandhaa's meticulous preparation offset this disadvantage, ensuring his strong performance.

The second tie

Following the first draw on August 22, the second game played with classical time control turned out to be the shortest for both Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa throughout the competition. Carlsen, the global top-ranked player, initiated the game as white, resulting in all four knights entering the fray within the first three moves. This setup hinted at an impending swift resolution.

Having completed the requisite 30 moves before considering a draw, both players held positions with a bishop and six pawns each. Carlsen, renowned for his aggressive strategies, opted for a quick draw.

The rapid conclusion of the game, with both participants possessing over an hour left on their clocks, allowed them ample time for recovery before resuming the match on Thursday.

The decisive tiebreaker

Magnus Carlsen took control of the FIDE World Cup final by securing victory in the first tiebreaker game against his 18-year-old contender, R Praggnanandhaa, on Thursday. The reigning World No. 1 exerted substantial board pressure, leading to Praggnanandhaa facing critical time constraints.

This time constraint proved pivotal as it propelled Magnus to secure his inaugural World Cup victory and conclude the remarkable journey of 18-year-old Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa.

R Praggnanandhaa: The prodigy's odyssey

Hailing from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Praggnanandhaa's foray into the realm of chess was ignited by his sister Vaishali's initiation into the game at the tender age of 6, while Praggnanandhaa himself was merely 2 years old.

As Vaishali attained the grandmaster title in 2018, followed by international master status in 2021, Praggnanandhaa honed his skills through focused training, primarily at the Bloom Chess Academy. It was there that he cultivated his expertise and gained invaluable insight.