Tata Steel Masters chess: R Praggnanandhaa beats Vidit Gujrathi, Magnus Carlsen maintains lead

The 16-year-old R Praggnanandhaa defeated GM Vidit Gujrathi in the 10th round clash of the Tata Steel Masters chess tournament 2022.

Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa pulled off a win over compatriot Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi in a marathon 10th round clash at the Tata Steel Masters chess tournament. The 16-year old Praggnanandhaa (Elo 2612) halted his three-match losing streak to shock the higher-rated Gujrathi (Elo 2727) in 78 moves in a Nimzo-Indian Classical variation game late on Wednesday.

Gujrathi, who was among the leaders till about two rounds ago, has slipped to joint fourth with 5.5 points. Praggnanandhaa, on the other hand, improved to 3.5 points but stood in 13th position. With all the players in the leading group drawing their games in round 10, world no.1 Magnus Carlsen continued to stay on top of the standings with seven points.

Praggnanandhaa fought like a lion on the chess board and defeated his compatriot Vidit Gujrathi on the 73rd Republic Day of India at the Tata Steel Masters 2022. Pragg was in a difficult situation out of the opening, but kept fighting and turned the tide around.