FIDE World Cup 2023: R Praggnanandhaa defeats Arjun Erigaisi to enter semi finals

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The teenage chess star from Chennai, R Praggnanandhaa, created history by entering the FIDE World Cup 2023 semi-finals. With this, he became the only other Indian chess player after five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, to feature in the semis of the world cup.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated compatriot Arjun Erigaisi 5-4 via the sudden death tie-break to enter the semifinals of the FIDE World Cup chess tournament in Baku on Thursday (August 17).

With the win, the 17-year-old Praggnanandhaa booked a place in the semifinals against American ace Fabiano Caruana and almost secured a spot in next year's Candidates event.

"With world No.1 Magnus Carlsen not likely to feature in the Candidates, Praggnanandhaa could be playing in the tournament to decide the challenger to current world champion Ding Liren."

Praggnanandhaa had bounced back after losing the first game of the two-game classical series to win the second on Wednesday to force a tiebreak. In game one of Blitz play, he played fantastically and took down Erigaisi.

Games three and four were won by Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi respectively as the quarterfinal headed to a sudden death decider. Interestingly, all games were won by players with black pieces.

Both the Indians showed nerves of steel, scoring wins in crucial games as the last eight clashes ebbed and flowed due to enterprising play by the duo. Noted coach R.B. Ramesh said on Twitter after the match: "What an epic match! Well played both young lions. Proud of both players for their fighting spirit throughout."

Two other Indians - 17-year-old D. Gukesh and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi - had crashed out in the quarterfinals, losing to world No.1 Carlsen and Nijat Abasov respectively.