Baku, Azerbaijan: Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa emerged victorious over world No. 3 Fabiano Caruana in the semifinals of the FIDE World Cup chess tournament held in Baku. After a captivating two-game classical series ended in a 1-1 draw, the 18-year-old chess prodigy from India secured his place in the finals by outdueling the highly-regarded American GM in a tension-filled tie-breaker.
The tension was palpable as the match reached its climax during the tie-breaker, showcasing a true battle of wits between the young Praggnanandhaa and the experienced Caruana. The tie-breaker ultimately favoured Praggnanandhaa, who displayed remarkable composure and strategic prowess, earning him a hard-fought victory with a score of 3.5-2.5.
Praggnanandhaa’s triumph in the semifinals propels him into the championship match, where he is set to face none other than Norway’s chess sensation Magnus Carlsen. The impending duel promises to be a gripping clash of chess titans, capturing the attention of the global chess community.
Chess icon Viswanathan Anand, renowned for his own accomplishments in the world of chess, took to the digital realm to laud Praggnanandhaa’s remarkable achievement. “Pragg goes through to the final! He beat Fabiano Caruana in the tiebreak and will now face Magnus Carlsen. What a performance!” Anand enthusiastically shared on the digital platform ‘X,’ formerly known as Twitter.
Pragg goes through to the final! He beats Fabiano Caruana in the tiebreak and will face Magnus Carlsen now.
What a performance!@FIDE_chess #FIDEWorldCup2023
— Viswanathan Anand (@vishy64theking) August 21, 2023
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