In an exciting turn of events on Monday, Indian chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa outplayed his semifinal adversary Fabiano Caruana, securing his spot in the final match of the FIDE Chess World Cup 2023 in Azerbaijan. The 18-year-old prodigy achieved a 3.5-2.5 victory over Caruana, a skilled chess player with American-Italian heritage, during the esteemed tournament’s semifinal stage. This impressive win now propels Praggnanandhaa to the final, where he is set to face off against Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen.
The victory establishes Praggnanandhaa as the youngest player in history to reach the championship match of the prestigious competition, putting an end to India’s extended anticipation for a finalist in the FIDE World Cup since the renowned Viswanathan Anand. The young prodigy outperformed World No. 3 Caruana after consistently impressive performances throughout the competition.
Prag received a bye in the first round and subsequently defeated French participant Maxime Lagarde in the following round of the tournament. In the third round, Prag faced a new opponent in the form of Czech veteran David Navara, aged 38. With his exceptional performance, the Indian player outshone his rival, securing a spot in the fourth round. In this stage, he went head-to-head against the World No.2, Hikaru Nakamura, and managed to triumph over him. Progressing into the fifth round, Prag’s momentum remained strong as he faced Hungarian Ferenc Berkes and effortlessly overcame the challenge. This victory propelled him into the following round where he encountered fellow Indian contender Arjun Erigasi, forming an exciting all-Indian match-up.
The 18-year-old Indian grandmaster, Praggnanandhaa, secured a remarkable victory in the quarterfinals by making a determined comeback against fellow Indian player Erigasi.
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