In a historic moment for Indian chess, R Praggnanandhaa achieved a milestone on Tuesday by defeating world champion Ding Liren at the ongoing TATA Steel Chess Tournament. With this victory, the young chess prodigy has surpassed the legendary Viswanathan Anand to become the No. 1 ranked Indian Grandmaster, marking a significant achievement early in his career.
Scripting History Against Ding Liren R Praggnanandhaa’s victory over the world champion from China came as a surprise to many, including the young Grandmaster himself. Reflecting on the game, he mentioned, “I felt I equalized very easily, and then somehow things started to go wrong for him. Even after I won the pawn, I felt it should be holdable.” This triumph holds special significance for Praggnanandhaa, as it marks his first classical chess win against a reigning world champion.
Strategic Outlook and Challenges Ahead Expressing contentment with his performance in the tournament so far, Praggnanandhaa remains focused on the challenges that lie ahead. He acknowledged the importance of maintaining high energy levels throughout the tournament, emphasizing the need for consistency. “It’s good. I think the first three games were quite interesting. I think I am playing well, but it was the same case last year,” he commented, alluding to the importance of sustaining momentum in a competitive environment.
Current Standings in TATA Steel Chess Tournament – Masters Round 4
| Ranking | Player | Rating | Points |
| 1. | Anish Giri | 2749 | 3.5 |
| 2. | Alireza Firouzja | 2759 | 3 |
| 3. | R Praggnanandhaa | 2743 | 2.5 |
| 4. | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 2727 | 2.5 |
| 5. | Wei Yi | 2740 | 2.5 |
| 6. | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 2769 | 2.5 |
| 7. | Vidit Santosh Gujrathi | 2742 | 2 |
| 8. | Ding Liren | 2780 | 2 |
| 9. | Max Warmerdram | 2625 | 2 |
| 10. | D Gukesh | 2725 | 1.5 |
| 11. | Jordan van Foreest | 2682 | 1.5 |
| 12. | Ju Wenjun | 2549 | 1 |
| 13. | Alexander Donchenko | 2643 | 1 |
| 14. | Parham Maghsoodloo | 2740 | 0.5 |
