
Courtesy: Google
Indian Grand Master R Praggnanandhaa got an emphatic victory against world champion D Gukesh in the Masters section of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025. The Indian Grand Master displayed an impressive show to rout Gukesh, and claim his first title. The final round between both young chess maestros was intriguing as it exhibited thrill and tenacity. With both players stuck at the leaderboard with the score of 8.5/13, the tiebreaker concluded with vigorous drama.
Praggnanandhaa found himself in a perilous situation in the opening game after Gukesh took advantage of the former’s blunder. In the crunch situation, Praggnanandhaa showed nerves of steel in the second game, applying the Trompowsky opening and patiently steering through the complexities to push towards a sudden death.
However, in the sudden-death encounter, Gukesh used his skills and troubled his opponent with the imaginative step on the queen’s side, securing a pawn. The time pressure and endgame position couldn’t shatter Praggnanandhaa’s confidence as he utilised his technical skills and determination. With the match at its peak, Gukesh failed to hold his nerve as he fell after losing his pawn, and his last knight. The defeat disheartened Gukesh as he leaned back on his chair and shook his head in anger.
Praggnanandhaa’s technique hands him maiden victory at the Masters level
Praggnanandhaa’s technique helped him have a command over the game and rack up the full point. The notable success is his maiden triumph at the Masters level. However, for Gukesh, it was a forgettable moment as the young prodigy tied for the top spot for two consecutive years, but couldn’t breach the tiebreaker rounds. Previously, he fell short against the Chinese grandmaster Wei Yi. Although the clash of giants ended with Gukesh’s loss, spectators at the venue and chess buffs got to witness an intriguing game that kept them hooked.