BAKU, Aug 22: Indian GM R Praggnanandhaa held his own against World No.1 Magnus Carlsen to secure a draw in the first classical game of the final of the FIDE World Cup chess tournament here on Tuesday.
The 18-year old Indian GM was impressive against a fancied and higher rated opponent and forced a stalemate in 35 moves while playing white pieces.
This means Carlsen will have the advantage of playing white in the second game of the two-match classical series on Wednesday.
Praggnanandhaa had stormed into the final by shocking world No.3 Fabiano Caruana 3.5-2.5.
The Indian teenager became only the second player from the country to reach the final of the World Cup after the legendary Viswanathan Anand and has already qualified for the Candidates tournament in 2024.
It’s a special kind of support:
Legendary Garry Kasparov
hails Praggnanandhaa, mother
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa’s incredible run in the Chess World Cup has reminded the legendary Garry Kasparov of his time as the king of 64 squares.
Impressed with the teen sensation’s win over world No.3 Fabiano Caruana here on Monday, the former world champion Kasparov took to X, formerly Twitter, to laud the 18-year-old’s feats and his mother’s efforts.
“Congrats to @rpragchess – and to his mother. As someone whose proud mama accompanied me to every event, it’s a special kind of support!
The Chennai Indian defeated two New York cowboys! He has been very tenacious in difficult positions,” Kasparov tweeted.
Continuing his dream run, Praggnanandhaa on Monday stunned Caruana 3.5-2.5 via the tie-break in the semifinals to set up a summit clash with world number one and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway at the FIDE’s premier event.
Praggnanandhaa defeated Caruana after four rapid tiebreak games and thereafter stormed into the final of the showpiece.
After the two-game classical series ended 1-1, the Indian prodigy outlasted the highly-rated American GM in a battle of wits in a nerve-wracking tie-breaker.
Praggnanandhaa also became the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand – also a five-time world champion –in 2002 to make it to the final of the FIDE World Cup. (PTI)
