Indian Chess Prodigy Praggnanandhaa Surpasses Anand, Defeats World Champion Ding Liren

In a historic turn of events at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk Aan Zee, 18-year-old Indian chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa achieved a remarkable victory against reigning world champion Ding Liren in the fourth round. With this win, Praggnanandhaa not only secured a prominent place in the Masters event but also surpassed the legendary Viswanathan Anand as the top-rated Indian player in the FIDE live ratings, boasting 2748.3 points against Anand’s 2748. The young Grandmaster’s triumph, accomplished with the black pieces in a 62-move game, marks him as the second Indian, after Anand, to defeat a reigning world champion in classical chess.

This recent victory is not the first time Praggnanandhaa has outplayed Ding Liren, as he had previously defeated the world champion at the 2023 Tata Steel tournament. The young Grandmaster expressed his satisfaction, stating, “That feels good!” Praggnanandhaa, currently third in the standings with 2.5 points, has been showcasing remarkable form, finishing as the runner-up in the World Cup against Magnus Carlsen last year. This achievement earned him a spot in the upcoming Candidates tournament in April, where the challenger to Ding Liren will be determined.

As the Tata Steel Chess Tournament progresses, Dutch player Anish Giri emerges as the sole leader after securing victory against Indian GM D Gukesh, bringing his points to 3.5. Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa, now set to face Giri in the fifth round, continues to draw attention with his exceptional skills. Other Indian contenders, D Gukesh and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, face tough opponents in Ian Nepomniachtchi and Max Warmerdam, respectively, in the upcoming rounds, adding an exciting layer to the tournament’s unfolding drama.

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