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Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, the 18-year-old registered his maiden classical game victory over world numero uno Magnus Carlsen in his home turf. He took the sole lead in the Norway Chess tournament. He took the leader’s position with 5.5 points after three rounds. Praggnanandhaa was playing with white pieces and his victory pushed home favourite Carlsen to the fifth spot in the points table.
Classical chess, also known as slow chess, allows players significant amount of time to make their moves, usually at least one hour. Pragg defeated Carlsen with white in round 3 of the Norway Chess tournament to collect 3 points and grab the sole lead in the standings. The Indian GM saw his famed opponent playing a risky Sicilian and losing the thread in the early middlegame. Precise play by the youngster in the ensuing struggle allowed him to emerge victorious in the 37-move encounter.
Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa had drawn their previous three encounters in this format. This was a big boost for Praggnanandhaa, who had lost the World Cup last year to Magnus Carlsen. Incidentally, Praggnanandhaa is only the fourth Indian to beat Carlsen in classical chess.
Praggnanandhaa was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on 10 August 2005.[3] His father, Rameshbabu, works as a branch manager at Bank and his mother, Nagalakshmi, is a homemaker. Praggnanandhaa and his sister Vaishali are the first brother-sister duo to both earn the GM title. They are also the first brother-sister duo to qualify for the Candidates. Praggnandhaa’s sister R Vaishali held the top spot in the women’s competition, also with 5.5 points.
Carlsen is a Norwegian chess grandmaster. He is a five-time World Chess Champion, the reigning five-time World Rapid Chess Champion, the reigning seven-time World Blitz Chess Champion, and the reigning Chess World Cup Champion.
