Chess World Cup 2023: R Praggnanandhaa defeats Caruana, Set Final Date with Magnus Carlsen (Image:twitter.com/ianuragthakur/status)
Defeating Caruana in the semi-finals, India”s R Praggnanandhaa entered the finals to set a mind-blowing match with the world”s number one Magnus Carlsen.
He is the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to reach the semifinals of the The International Chess Federation – FIDE – World Cup.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, the 18-year old Indian chess grandmaster managed to defeat Fabiano Caruana after four rapid tiebreak games, on Monday. Fabiano Luigi Caruana, the Italian-American chess grandmaster is the third-highest-rated player in history of Chess competitions.
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According to the Indian Express, “The two classical games that happened between Cauana and Praggnanandhaa on Saturday and Sunday ended up in draws. The same was the result for Monday”s two rapid games. Praggnanandhaa managed to defeat Caruana in the third game of the tiebreak, and with the win over the final tiebreak he shut the door on Caruana and majestically entered the final against Magnus Carlsen.
Viswanathan Anand or “Vishy”, the Indian chess grandmaster and former five-time World Chess Champion, praised Praggnanandhaa through an X (formerly Twitter) post.
“Pragg [Praggnanandhaa] goes through to the final! He beats Fabiano Caruana in the tiebreak and will face Magnus Carlsen now. What a performance!”, he wrote on X.
Pragg goes through to the final! He beats Fabiano Caruana in the tiebreak and will face Magnus Carlsen now.
What a performance!@FIDE_chess #FIDEWorldCup2023
— Viswanathan Anand (@vishy64theking) August 21, 2023
Praggnanandhaa and World No.3 Caruana had ended Sunday”s tied match in 47 moves.
“History in the Making”, wrote Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs, and Information and Broadcasting. “Pragg”s tenacity and perseverance shine bright, making him only 2nd Indian to reach the WC Final and qualify for the Candidates”, said Mr Thakur congratulating Praggnanandhaa on X.
𝑯𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑹𝒀 𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑴𝑨𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮!!
Congratulations to GM @rpragchess on making it to the FINAL of 2023 FIDE World Cup♟️
Pragg”s tenacity and perseverance shine bright, making him only 2nd Indian to reach the WC Final and qualify for the Candidates.
🇮🇳”s young prodigy is… pic.twitter.com/4cGB2048bg
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) August 21, 2023
“Heartiest congratulations for your incredible performance at the #FIDEWorldCup2023! My best wishes as you gear up to face Magnus Carlsen in the finals. Keep shining!”, wrote Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on X.
Heartiest congratulations @rpragchess, for your incredible performance at the #FIDEWorldCup2023! ♟️👑
My best wishes as you gear up to face Magnus Carlsen in the finals.
Keep shining! 🇮🇳👏 https://t.co/Sato7RTyHl pic.twitter.com/jmQHlOuTcO
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 21, 2023
Praggnanandhaa also qualified for 2024″s Candidates Tournament. He is the third youngest player after legendary Bobby Fischer and current World No.1 Carlsen to qualify for the Candidates tournament.
“I didn”t expect to play Magnus in this tournament at all because the only way I could play him was in the final, and I didn”t expect to be in the final. I will just try to give my best and see how it goes!,” PTI quoted Praggnanandhaa.
Praggnanandhaa, a native of Tamil Nadu”s Chennai, became an international master at the age of 10, the youngest at the time to do so, and a grandmaster at the age of 12, the second-youngest at the time to do so.
