Chess World Cup : India’s Kid Lost To Magnus!

The remarkable journey of Indian chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa came to a close as he faced off against the world’s No. 1 chess player, Magnus Carlsen, in a thrilling final match at the FIDE World Cup. In a gripping contest, Carlsen emerged as the victor with a score of 1.5-0.5 in the tie-breaker clash, following a stalemate in the classical games.

Although Praggnanandhaa fought valiantly, Carlsen’s mastery in end-game tactics proved decisive as he secured his inaugural World Cup triumph, an addition to his already illustrious collection of five World Chess Championship titles.

Praggnanandhaa exhibited exceptional resilience throughout the tournament, most notably by defeating world No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura and world No. 3 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

Despite the final loss, the FIDE World Cup marked a significant milestone for the Chennai teenager, as he secured a place in the prestigious Candidates Tournament. Notably, Praggnanandhaa, who celebrated his 18th birthday during the World Cup, earned the distinction of being the youngest-ever World Cup finalist and winner.

This extraordinary journey has solidified his place as a rising star in the world of chess. Despite the loss, Praggnanandhaa made the Indians proud.