Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa delivered another major upset, defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas.
Carlsen’s Losing Streak Continues
Magnus Carlsen is finding tough competition from Indian chess prodigies this year. Following two recent losses to World Champion D Gukesh, Carlsen faced another defeat, this time at the hands of R Praggnanandhaa in Las Vegas.
The encounter took place during the group stage of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. Carlsen had started strong, winning his first two games and drawing another, before meeting Praggnanandhaa in his fourth game.
Praggnanandhaa’s Strategic Victory
The match concluded in just 39 moves with Praggnanandhaa securing a decisive win. From as early as the tenth move, Praggnanandhaa gained an advantage, pushing his pawn ahead with 10…b5?!.
Carlsen further complicated his position with 11…cxd4?!, allowing Praggnanandhaa’s knight to find a powerful square at 12.Nf5. This move proved lethal, resembling a sniper’s precision.
Carlsen found himself in significant time trouble, spending over three minutes on a single move while down to just seconds on his clock. He failed to activate his queen, missing opportunities to escape the pressure. Praggnanandhaa soon spotted a move that could fork Carlsen’s king and queen, sealing his dominance.
As the game progressed, both queens were exchanged, leaving Praggnanandhaa with a crucial two-pawn advantage. Carlsen’s king was left exposed and vulnerable, with no safe haven from Praggnanandhaa’s relentless rooks, which systematically cleared the board.
Tournament Implications
This defeat had significant consequences for Carlsen. He finished fifth in Group White, meaning he can no longer compete for the title at the Las Vegas tournament. His best possible finish is now third place.
Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa’s strong performance, highlighted by this win, allowed him to top Group White. In Group Black, another Indian player, Arjun Erigaisi, secured fourth place, earning him a spot in the Upper Bracket to contend for the title.
For the quarter-finals, Praggnanandhaa chose to face Fabiano Caruana, opting not to play against his close friend Arjun Erigaisi. Arjun will now compete against Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Interestingly, Vidit Gujrathi, who finished at the bottom of Group Black, will face a “wounded” Magnus Carlsen in his next match.
- R Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen in 39 moves at the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess event.
- Carlsen’s loss means he is out of contention for the tournament title, capable of finishing at best third.
- Praggnanandhaa topped Group White and chose Fabiano Caruana as his quarter-final opponent.
- Two other Indian Grandmasters, Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi, also feature in the knockout stages.
The stage is set for exciting matchups as the tournament progresses, with Indian talents continuing to make their mark on the global chess scene.
