In an epic final of the FIDE World Cup, R Praggnanandhaa started the third day strongly against Magnus Carlsen. However, as anticipated, Carlsen, the current world number one, emerged victorious in his first-ever World Cup, with a score of 2.5 – 1.5. Carlsen showcased his dominance in the first rapid game, winning the endgame and securing his title with three draws in the classical games over the past two days.
Although Praggnanandhaa, like Carlsen, was playing in his first World Cup final, his journey is far from over. He will now compete in the Candidates tournament in 2024, where the winner will challenge China’s Ding Liren for the next World Championship. At just 18 years old, Praggnanandhaa is the third youngest player, following in the footsteps of Bobby Fischer and Carlsen, to qualify for the Candidates tournament.
In the first game, Carlsen’s superior endgame skills allowed him to secure victory after a tightly contested match. With the white pieces in the following game, Carlsen played cautiously, ensuring a draw and avoiding any unnecessary drama. Praggnanandhaa held a comfortable position until the endgame, but Carlsen’s strategic play put the young Indian under time pressure, leading to his eventual resignation.
Although Praggnanandhaa initially had an advantageous position in terms of the clock and the board due to his opening choice, the middle-game became a back-and-forth battle between the players. The Indian even held a slight time advantage heading into the endgame.
The game seemed destined for a draw with both players in a relatively even position. However, Carlsen’s strategic move with his knights posed a significant threat, and with just 10 seconds left on the clock, Praggnanandhaa chose to resign.
With the pressure on, Praggnanandhaa needed a victory in the next game with the black pieces. While he had achieved this feat previously in the tournament against Arjun Erigaisi, he was now facing a completely different challenge in Carlsen.
From the opening moves, Carlsen’s experience and expertise were evident as he effectively neutralized Praggnanandhaa’s chances of winning with the black pieces. Both players agreed to a draw after a few major pieces were traded, and Carlsen’s smile was the only visible display of emotion. Now, Carlsen has completed his illustrious collection by securing the one title that had evaded him, in addition to his five World Championship titles.
This tournament will be etched in Praggnanandhaa’s memory. Overcoming adversity in the previous rounds, he defeated both the world number two, Hikaru Nakamura, and the world number three, Fabiano Caruana, to reach the final. This achievement exceeded his own expectations.
At just 18 years old, Praggnanandhaa has become the youngest Chess World Cup finalist to date. There is no doubt that this is just the beginning of what promises to be a remarkable career for R Praggnanandhaa.
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