Indian chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa continues to be a thorn in the side of World No. 1 Champion Magnus Carlsen. Praggnanandhaa secured another impressive victory over Carlsen in the Superbet Rapid & Blitz chess tournament, part of the Grand Chess Tour.
While the win keeps Praggnanandhaa in contention, the real story of the tournament so far might be China’s Wei Yi. Yi has stormed to a commanding lead, amassing a massive 2.5-point advantage with his dominant play in the blitz portion.
Carlsen himself admitted to being shaken by his earlier loss to Praggnanandhaa in the second round, even stating his “nervous system had collapsed.” This might explain his subsequent loss to Nodirbek Abdusattorov, where he squandered a winning position.
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Wei Yi leads, Praggnanandhaa at third
The Indian youngster has become a real threat to Carlsen in the faster chess formats. With nine rounds remaining in the blitz section, Praggnanandhaa’s consistent victories over Carlsen are a major reason Carlsen finds himself a distant second in the overall standings.
Wei Yi, meanwhile, looks on track to claim the first leg of the Grand Chess Tour. His incredible performance, highlighted by seven wins on the first day of blitz, has put him in a seemingly great position.
Chess fans will be eagerly watching the remaining rounds, with the question of whether Praggnanandhaa can continue his dominance over Carlsen and whether Wei Yi can maintain his incredible lead.
Final results rapid:
1. Wei Yi 20.5
2. Magnus Carlsen 18
3. R. Praggnanandhaa 14.5
4. Arjun Erigaisi 14
5. Duda Jan-Krzysztof 13
6. Nodirbek Abdusattorov 12.5
7. Vincent Keymer 11.5
8. Kirill Shevchenko 11
9. Anish Giri 10.5
10. D.Gukesh 9.5
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