"If R Praggnanandhaa Wins World Cup Around The Time Chandrayaan Lands...": Viswanathan Anand To NDTV

22.08.2023 - 11:07 sports.ndtv.com

R Praggnanandhaa will be carrying the hopes of a billion in the final of the Chess World Cup against world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen.

The final will be a two-game affair with the first game being played on Tuesday, while the second game being played on Wednesday.

If there is no winner at the end of the two games, then the final will proceed to the tie-breakers. Wednesday is also the day when India's moon mission - Chandrayaan 3 - is expected to land.

Chess legend talked to NDTV ahead of Praggnanandhaa's final and said it would be momentous if the Indian 18-year-old wins the global event when Chandrayaan 3 lands on the moon. "He is going to play Magnus Carlsen.

chess R Praggnanandhaa cup Magnus Carlsen Viswanathan Anand India

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand on Tuesday said he could not have asked for a stronger Indian chess lineup in the upcoming Asian Games. Indian chess has been on a stunning upswing, and in the recently-concluded Baku World Cup, an unprecedented four Indian players advanced to the quarterfinals, with R Praggnanandhaa making history by becoming the youngest to win a silver medal. Adding to this wave of success, last week saw Anand's 17-year-old protege, D Gukesh, ending his mentor's 37-year-long reign as India's No. 1 player.

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D Gukesh Replaces Viswanathan Anand As India's Top Chess Player After 37 Years

Teenaged Grandmaster D Gukesh has replaced the legendary Viswanathan Anand as India's top chess player after more than three decades. Anand has been India's No.1 since July 1986. The 17-year old Chennai GM, who recently lost in the quarterfinals of the FIDE World Cup in Baku to Magnus Carlsen, moved ahead of Anand to be ranked No.8 in the world. Gukesh broke into the top 10 of the FIDE rating list for the first time. Anand, a five-time world champion is currently ranked No.9.

Why R Praggnanandhaa Lost To Magnus Carlsen? Viswanathan Anand Raises 'Fatigue' Argument

Legendary chess player Viswanathan Anand believes that R Praggnanandhaa was 'fatigued' during the Chess World Cup final against Marnus Carlsen and that can be a result behind his defeat. The summit clash went to the Rapid Chess tie-breaker and Carlsen won the first game. The second game ended in a draw but it meant that Praggnanandhaa's brilliant run in the tournament came to an end. Praggnanandhaa finished as runner-up but qualified for the FIDE Candidates tournament thanks to his impressive performances.

Why R Praggnanandhaa Lost To Magnus Carlsen? Viswanathan Anand Raises 'Fatigue' Argument

R Praggnanandhaa's Historic Road To FIDE World Cup Final

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa wrote a golden chapter in Indian chess history by becoming only the second player from the country after Viswanathan Anand -- and the youngest -- to play in the FIDE World Cup final. The 18-year-old Indian lost the summit clash to Norway's world No.1 Magnus Carlsen here on Thursday.