In a historic turn of events at the 2024 Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, 18-year-old chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, hailing from Chennai, achieved a monumental milestone in his career by defeating the reigning World Champion, Ding Liren of China. This remarkable triumph, occurring during the fourth round, showcased Praggnanandhaa's strategic prowess as he outplayed his opponent with the black pieces.
Surpassing Viswanathan Anand:
Praggnanandhaa's victory over Ding Liren not only marked a personal triumph but also propelled him to surpass the legendary Viswanathan Anand as the top-rated Indian player. With a FIDE live rating of 2748.3, Praggnanandhaa marginally eclipsed Anand's rating of 2748, making him the second Indian, after Anand, to defeat a reigning world champion in classical chess. Notably, Praggnanandhaa had previously defeated Ding Liren at the Tata Steel tournament in 2023.
Tata Steel Chess Tournament Overview:
-
Anish Giri’s Performance: In the Masters group, Anish Giri emerged as the sole leader, showcasing exceptional endgame skills against D Gukesh.
-
Standings of Other Indian Players: Vidit Santosh Gujrathi secured a draw against Jorden Van Foreest, while Gukesh faced defeat against Anish Giri. Praggnanandhaa claimed the third position in the tournament standings, with Vidit at seventh and Gukesh at tenth.
-
Future Matches: Praggnanandhaa is slated to face Anish Giri in the upcoming fifth round, while his compatriots, Gukesh and Gujrathi, are set to take on Ian Nepomniachtchi and Max Warmerdam, respectively.
Praggnanandhaa’s Reflections on the Game:
Reflecting on the game, Praggnanandhaa described it as "strange" yet surprisingly smooth. He expressed satisfaction with his performance, highlighting easy equalization and maintaining control throughout. Despite the success, he remains mindful of the challenges ahead and emphasizes the need to sustain high energy levels throughout the tournament.
© Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
