In a stunning turn of events, Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has sent shockwaves through the chess world. In the semifinals of the FIDE World Cup chess tournament held in Azerbaijan, Praggnanandhaa pulled off an impressive victory against world No.3, USA’s Fabiano Caruana. The tense match ended in a tie-break, with the 18-year-old Chennai prodigy prevailing 3.5-2.5.Following a deadlock in the two-game classical series, the battle of wits entered a nerve-wracking tie-breaker. And now, Praggnanandhaa’s path leads him to a face-off with none other than Norway’s legendary Magnus Carlsen in the final. Amidst the excitement, chess legend Viswanathan Anand extended his congratulations. Anand shared his enthusiasm through a post on social media.But Praggnanandhaa’s journey to the final has been nothing short of remarkable. He has already conquered world No. 2 and world No. 3, showcasing his exceptional talent and determination. As anticipation builds for the final match, Praggnanandhaa’s feat is a testament to his meteoric rise. This achievement holds even greater significance. Praggnanandhaa secures a place in the prestigious Candidates Tournament, a stepping stone towards challenging the reigning world champion, Chinese GM Liren Ding. What makes this even more special is that India has never performed so well in the World Cup Open Category.Notably, India’s performance in the World Cup Open Category has reached unprecedented heights. While former world champion GM Viswanathan Anand had previously clinched victory under a different format, this time, four Indian GMs, including Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, made it to the quarterfinals among a field of over 250 players.
