18-yr-old Praggnanandhaa beats number 2 and 3 players to set up Chess World Cup final with Magnus Carlsen

In a thrilling display of tenacity, R Praggnanandhaa, the 18-year-old Indian chess prodigy, has etched his name in the annals of chess history by securing a place in the final of the FIDE World Cup, underway in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Praggnanandhaa, with a series of strategic moves against his opponent, the formidable world number 3, Fabiano Caruana, managed to pull him into a shorter time-control game, ultimately securing victory in the tie-breaker with a score of 3.5-2.5.

Before this contest, Praggnanandhaa stunned everyone by beating world number two Hikaru Nakamura on Thursday (August 10).

This feat made Praggnanandhaa the third youngest player to qualify for the Candidates Tournament (the World Cup) 2024, after chess legends Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen.

This final berth makes Praggnanandhaa the first Indian to reach the FIDE World Cup final since the introduction of the knockout format in 2005. He will face Magnus Carlsen in the finals.

The decisive moment

• The first two 'classical games' ended in a 1-1 draw, followed by two '25-minute time-controlled matches', again ending in a draw, leading to the first 10-minute game.
• The turning point in Praggnanandhaa's march to the final came in the first 10-minute rapid game against the American Grandmaster, after playing out four draws in three days.
• Praggnanandhaa, playing white, displayed an impeccable defense technique initially. Then, as the game progressed, he gained two pawns and pursued victory.
• His pursuit pushed Caruana into a corner, leading to his resignation on the 63rd move, just a move before checkmate.
• The second 10-minute tie-breaker match ended in a draw, leading to Praggnanandhaa's victory.

The win is important for India, as Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian in 21 years to reach the final of the Chess World Cup. It's worth noting that Viswanathan Anand secured his titles in 2000 and 2002 in a format that featured a 24-player league combined with a knockout system.

Onto the final

Praggnanandhaa's remarkable journey now leads him to the ultimate challenge - a showdown with the world No 1, Magnus Carlsen, in the final.

This clash promises to be a battle of wits that will be closely followed not only in India but also by chess enthusiasts worldwide.

"More than a billion cheers"

Vishwanathan Anand took to 'X' (formerly Twitter) to praise the young talent. "Pragg goes through to the final! He beats Fabiano Caruana in the tiebreak and will face Magnus Carlsen now. What a performance!" Anand posted, expressing excitement and pride.

Following the win, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have conveyed their regards to Praggnanandhaa. Rahul Gandhi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express the sentiments of the nation, stating, "More than a billion Indians are cheering for you."

As the young prodigy prepares to face Magnus Carlsen, the world will be watching, and a nation will be cheering for a historic victory.