Two games, first a 35-move draw on Tuesday, followed by a 30-move draw in Game 2 on Wednesday, forced the Chess World Cup 2023 final between Indian teen sensation R. Praggnanandhaa and Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen into a tie-breaker.
It was scheduled to take place on Thursday in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the result becoming available this morning (Singapore time).
While both Game 1 and Game 2 were played in the classical format, the tie-breaker will be played in a shorter format.
Millions in India have been cheering on Praggnanandhaa, known as Pragg, this week, knowing that he could upset the five-time world champion.
A year ago, the 18-year-old, born and raised in Chennai, had shocked the chess world by beating Carlsen in an online elite rapid chess tournament, becoming the youngest player to defeat the Norwegian since he became world champion in 2013.
But throughout his run to the final in Baku, Pragg has been modest about his achievements, saying he tries to give his best at every outing.
Even as the world media devoted considerable attention to Pragg over the past week, one of the most memorable photos from the Chess World Cup is of his mother smiling proudly after her son secured a place in the semi-finals.
The Press Trust of India revealed that Mrs Nagalakshmi accompanies him to all tournaments and is very supportive of his chess journey.
Pragg’s parents had introduced him and his sister to chess so they would cut down on watching television.
Mrs Nagalakshmi takes him to his classes, and ensures their home is conducive for him to practise.
And, even carries an induction stove and rice cooker when travelling for tournaments, she ensures that so Praggnanandhaathe teen can have food he is used to, even when thousands of miles away from home.
His father Rameshbabu confirmed that Praggnanandhaa likes home-cooked meals, and when travelling abroad, so Mrs Nagalakshmi packs an induction stove, rice and masalas.
This time, too, the first things Mrs Nagalakshmi packed in her luggage were a rice cooker and masalas so the chess Grandmaster could have rasam and rice in Azerbaijan.
Her hand in Praggnanandhaa’s success was acknowledged by none other than former world champion Garry Kasparov, who tweeted: “Congrats to @rpragchess —and to his mother. As someone whose proud mama accompanied me to every event, it’s a special kind of support! The Chennai Indian defeated two New York cowboys! He has been very tenacious in difficult positions.”
Indo-Asian News Service
