New Delhi: R Praggnanandhaa recieved a rousing reception upon his return home following his historic Tata Steel Chess winner in the Netherlands. Hundreds of fans, along with officials from the Tamil Nadu government and the national federation were present to receive the champion player at the Chennai airport on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old from Chennai star beat reigning world champion and compatriot D Gukesh on Sunday to claim his maiden Tata Steel Chess tournament title. The Tata Chess win is one of the biggest of his career so far.
“I feel very happy to win this tournament, and it is very nice to see that two Indians, two Tamil Nadu people played in the tie-break in the end. We both played well. Huge congrats to him (D Gukesh) as well, he played really well,” he said.
Chess Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa receives a warm welcome at the #Chennai Airport on his arrival from Netherlands. #Praggnanandhaa won the #TataSteelChess2025 tournament. #Netherlands pic.twitter.com/vWv7c8k49S
— News9 (@News9Tweets) February 4, 2025
Remarkable performance by the young chess star
Both Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh ended the 13th-round games on 8.5 points each but the former showed incredible mental resilience to clinch the tie-breaker 2-1 in the 87th edition of the prestigious chess tournament in Wijk Aan Zee.
Praggnanandhaa etched his name in history books following the win by becoming the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the Tata Steel Chess title.
Anand won the 2003, 2004, and 2006 editions when the event was known as the Corus Chess Tournament. He also won two more titles in 1989 and 1998 when it was known as Hoogovens Tournament.
A battle of nerves
Praggnanandhaa battled nerves and exhaustion to edge past Gukesh in a thrilling tie-breaker on what he described as a “crazy and long” day.
The Chennai star bounced back brilliantly after recovering from an early blunder that handed the opening game of the tie-breaker to his opponent. In a must-win situation, Praggnanandhaa went for a Trompowsky opening and took the match into sudden death.
Just when a draw looked imminent in sudden death, Gukesh, under the pump, lost control, and Praggnanandhaa capitalised on the error to clinch his maiden Tata Steel Chess crown.
Praggnanandhaa will be next seen in action at the Prague Masters scheduled to be played from February 25 to March 7.
R Praggnanandhaa scripted history following the win against D Gukesh on Sunday by becoming the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the Tata Steel Chess title. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
