New Delhi: Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa stunned world champion, Magnus Carlsen, in the eighth round of the ongoing Airthings Masters – an online rapid chess competition.
Praggnanandhaa halt Carlsen’s run of three wins in a row on Monday as he won with black pieces in 39 moves in a Tarrasch variation game. Carlsen had come across the youngest player in the field after a sturdy first day of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour.
This was Praggnanandhaa’s first win in any form of chess after having lost three games one after other.
“I think it’s about just going to bed,” FIDE’s website quoted Praggnanandha after his spectacular win.
Till now, the Indian Grandmaster drew against Anish Giri and Quang Liem Le and lost to Eric Hansen, Ding Liren, Jan-Kryzstof Duda and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in the rapid competition.
After eight rounds with eight points, R Praggnanandhaa lies in joint 12th spot in the ongoing Airthings Masters.
Who is R Praggnanandhaa ?
The young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa hails from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His father K Rameshbabu is a bank employee and the sole earning member in the family.
Praggnanandhaa, who happens to be the second youngest Grandmaster in the history of chess has traveled to 31 countries yet to participate in various chess tournaments. Other members of the young chess champ includes his mother Nagalakshmi, who is a homemaker and his elder sister Vaishali, herself an International Master.