Praggnanandhaa beats Gukesh in tiebreaker to clinch Tata Chess title

R Praggnanandhaa. File.
| Picture Credit score: Debasish Bhaduri

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa got here from behind to beat world champion D. Gukesh 2-1 within the tiebreaker to win the Tata Metal Masters chess event on Sunday (February 2, 2025).

There was big drama typical of two younger gamers seeking to win every tiebreak recreation after they ended the thirteenth and last spherical of the event tied for the highest spot with 8.5 factors every.

After the 2 teenage gamers left the chess aficionados spellbound over the past a number of days with their model of aggressive and progressive play to guide the group, each suffered stunning losses within the last spherical.

Whereas Gukesh misplaced to compatriot Arjun Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa too suffered a stunning defeat by the hands of Germany’s Vincent Keymer, however regardless of the losses they nonetheless managed 5.5 factors every to stay joint leaders.

Praggnanandhaa then confronted the Benoni with reversed colors within the first recreation of the tiebreak and it appeared like he had equalised simply within the center recreation. Nonetheless, Gukesh had different ideas as he stored making an attempt and gained, due to a blunder by Praggnanandhaa that price him a full rook.

In a must-win second recreation of the tiebreaker, Praggnanandhaa employed the Trompowsky opening, and this time Gukesh might declare a slight benefit along with his black items.

Nonetheless, by simply conserving his place collectively, Praggnanandhaa patiently waited and capitalised on an unforced error from his opponent to first knock down a pawn after which his technical talents have been sufficient to see the traditional blitz video games by means of with a 1-1 rating.

This took the match into sudden-death, the place Praggnanandhaa drew white and as soon as once more Gukesh was higher with some imaginative play on the queen aspect that netted him a pawn.

The sudden-death had a time management of two minutes and thirty seconds for white towards three for black however that didn’t deter Praggnanandhaa from making an attempt to defend an inferior endgame.

Simply whereas the place seemed utterly drawn and one other recreation was on the playing cards, Gukesh misplaced full management within the battle of nerves and first misplaced a pawn then his final remaining knight.

Praggnanandhaa confirmed excellent approach to take the complete level and his maiden victory on the Masters.

For Gukesh, this was the second 12 months operating when he tied for first place and misplaced the tiebreaker. Within the earlier version final 12 months, Gukesh had misplaced to Chinese language Wei Yi.