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.

"Praggnanandhaa had a sensational performance. He fought well and even getting to the tie-break was a good result. And today, at the end of the tournament, fatigue caught up. He has played some many big games recently - including before the World Cup in Hungary and the Global Chess League. It also proves that this is not an one-off result and I believe we are seeing a new star. He has a very bright future and he now has something to aim for - Qualify for the World Championship final at The Candidates," Anand told NDTV.

Praggnanandhaa received a lot of praise on social media.

"We are proud of Praggnanandhaa for his remarkable performance at the FIDE World Cup! He showcased his exceptional skills and gave a tough fight to the formidable Magnus Carlsen in the finals. This is no small feat. Wishing him the very best for his upcoming tournaments," PM Modi wrote on his X (Formerly Twitter) handle.

President of India Droupadi Murmu also appreciated the Indian prodigy for winning the "heart of every Indian" and becoming the runner-up in FIDE's World Cup Final.

She wrote a special tweet, praising Praggnanandhaa's efforts in the final clash, "Eighteen-year-old Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has won the heart of every