Praggnanandhaa has won the champion title in the 87th Tata Steel Chess Masters, marking his first-ever victory in the prestigious tournament. Before him, only one Indian had won the title—India’s Viswanathan Anand, who claimed the championship five times.
After the final round, both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa had 8.5 points each, leading to a tiebreaker with three blitz games to determine the winner. Praggnanandhaa emerged victorious, clinching the crown in a rare achievement by defeating the reigning World Chess Champion, Gukesh.
In a thrilling last-minute battle, fate played its part, with both players moving their pieces at lightning speed. During the final stages of the blitz games, Praggnanandhaa secured the win.
As Gukesh moved quickly, he collapsed into a chair, hands on his head, as Praggnanandhaa confirmed his victory. The intense final moments of the match were captured on video and shared on social media.
This was Gukesh’s first tournament after winning the World Chess Championship in Singapore, and Praggnanandhaa’s triumph over him in such an exciting contest added another significant achievement to his career.
