Indian chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has once again showcased his brilliance by making history at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. He secured a remarkable victory over world champion Ding Liren, propelling him to the top spot as the number one ranked Indian Grandmaster, surpassing the veteran Viswanathan Anand.
The unexpected win against China’s Ding Liren left Praggnanandhaa surprised, expressing that he did not anticipate the world champion to concede defeat so easily. Chess.com quoted him saying, “It feels good to win for the first time against a world champion in classical chess.”
While Praggnanandhaa is pleased with his tournament start, he remains cognizant of the challenges ahead. Reflecting on his performance, he mentioned, “It’s really important to keep the energy up till the end of the tournament.”
This victory adds to Praggnanandhaa’s impressive track record, having previously defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway multiple times. His outstanding performance in the Chess World Cup last year catapulted him into the limelight, reaching the finals and becoming the third-youngest player to achieve this feat.
While Praggnanandhaa’s victory is remarkable, some might question the consistency of top players, highlighting the unpredictability that has become a feature in recent chess tournaments.
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