Praggnanandhaa defeats world No. 1 Carlsen in historic win

In a remarkable turn of events, 18-year-old Indian chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa achieved a significant milestone by defeating the reigning World No. 1 Carlsen, in a classical chess game.

The encounter took place during the third round of the Norway Chess tournament, marking Praggnanandhaa’s first-ever classical win against the five-time world champion.

Carlsen, known for his aggressive and unconventional play, threw a “risky” opening at Praggnanandhaa by choosing not to castle, aiming to surprise the young Indian talent. However, this strategy backfired as Praggnanandhaa quickly adapted and piled on the pressure.

Praggnanandhaa Stuns World No. 1 Carlsen with Tactical Brilliance

Reflecting on the game, Praggnanandhaa described Carlsen’s opening as “provocative,” recognizing that Carlsen wanted to fight rather than play something solid. Despite being caught off guard initially, Praggnanandhaa remained resilient and eventually secured the victory.

Fellow chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura commented on Carlsen’s daring approach in the confessional booth, noting that Carlsen tends to take more risks when playing against younger opponents, aiming to prove a point. In contrast, he plays more cautiously against seasoned veterans like Nakamura himself.

What made Praggnanandhaa’s win even more impressive was that he spent most of the match trailing on the clock against Carlsen. Despite this time pressure, he executed a series of strategic moves to secure the victory.

The game began with Praggnanandhaa playing 1.e4, a popular opening move with white. Carlsen responded by sliding his pawn to c5, leading to an Open Sicilian position. Praggnanandhaa’s preparation stopped at bishop d3, and Carlsen’s queen move to c7 surprised him.

Throughout the game, Carlsen made appearances in the confessional booth, sharing his thoughts on specific moves. He criticized Praggnanandhaa’s 10th move (pushing the pawn to h3) as a “waste.” Despite this, Praggnanandhaa maintained his focus and capitalized on Carlsen’s mistakes.

By move 13, Praggnanandhaa gained an advantage, and Carlsen expressed concern about potential threats. The Indian grandmaster allowed his knight to be captured on the 20th move, but he still played the position correctly.

In the end, Praggnanandhaa emerged victorious, securing his place at the top of the open standings in the Norway Chess tournament. Carlsen, on the other hand, dropped to fifth position after the defeat. This historic win adds to Praggnanandhaa’s growing reputation as a rising star in the world of chess.

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