Praggnanandhaa Claims Top Spot in Indian Chess, Defeats World Champion at Tata Steel Masters Fourth Round
Indian Grandmaster’s Remarkable Win
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa secured a significant victory over defending world champion Ding Liren of China in the fourth round of the Tata Steel Masters 2024 on Wednesday. This accomplishment has propelled him into the fifth round of the tournament, making him only the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to defeat the reigning world champion in classical chess.
Praggnanandhaa Surpasses Anand in Rankings
Following this triumph, Praggnanandhaa surpassed Viswanathan Anand to become India’s number-1 chess player in the live classical chess rankings. The 18-year-old Grandmaster climbed two places to 11th overall, boasting a rating of 2748.3 points, 0.3 more than Anand.
Tata Steel Masters 2024 Overview
The Tata Steel Masters 2024 commenced on January 13 in Wieske en Zee, Netherlands, and is scheduled to continue until January 28.
Tendulkar Commends Praggnanandhaa
Sachin Tendulkar’s Praise
Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar took to social media to commend Praggnanandhaa. In his post, Tendulkar congratulated Praggnanandhaa for his victory against World Champion Ding Liren, highlighting the young player’s dominance in the game and his achievement of becoming India’s top-rated player at the age of 18. Tendulkar urged Praggnanandhaa to continue bringing glory to India.
The Youngest Grandmaster’s Journey
Praggnanandhaa’s Chess Milestones
Praggnanandhaa, a resident of Chennai, attained the title of Grandmaster in 2018, becoming the youngest player from India and the second youngest globally at that time. Known for his prodigious talent, he became an International Master at the age of 10.
Background and Early Achievements
Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Praggnanandhaa was born on August 10, 2005, in Chennai. His father, Rameshbabu, serves as a branch manager in the Tamil Nadu State Corporation Bank, while his mother, Nagalakshmi, is a housewife. Notably, Praggnanandhaaachieved the title of the youngest International Chess Master in 2016 at the age of 10.
