FIDE World Cup 2023: R Praggnanandhaa-Magnus Carlsen play a draw to send final to tiebreaks

Baku (Azerbaijan), Aug 23: Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa played a second draw against World No.1 Magnus Carlsen in the second classical game of the final of the FIDE World Cup Chess here on Wednesday (August 23).

Magnus Carlsen took a quiet draw with white against the 18-year-old Indian chess prodigy. The winner of the final will now be decided in tie-breaks on Thursday (August 24).

The match which lasted only for one hour and thirty minutes saw both players make 30 moves each before they agreed to a draw. They will now return tomorrow to play in the shorter time control games to decide the champion.

Aynur Sofiyeva, who is Azerbaijan's first Woman Grandmaster and Deputy Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, made the ceremonial first move in the game between Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa.

The Indian teen prodigy - who recently turned 18 - had his mother amongst the spectators and termed her a source of inspiration. "My mom has been a huge load of support not only for me but also for my sister," the Chennai lad said.

Reacting over the upcoming tiebreaker, the Norwegian superstar said, "Praggnanandhaa has already played a lot of tiebreaks against very strong players... I know he is very strong. If I have some energy, if I have a good day, obviously I will have good chances."

"I am very grateful to the organisers, FIDE and the doctors and nurses, who got me some good treatment. Today, I am feeling a bit better but I still didn't feel like I had the energy for a full fight, so I thought, let's get one more day of rest. Hopefully, I will have more strength tomorrow," the world number one told FIDE in an interview after the second game.

The Indian said he wasn't expecting a quick draw from the legendary player from Norway. "I didn't really think that he would go for a quick draw today, but I realised when he went for this line that he wants to make a draw; I was also fine with that. I also feel exhausted, as I said in the previous interviews. Now I can just give everything tomorrow and relax after that."

"Tomorrow, I just want to come with a fresh mind. I will try to rest today; it is very important because I've been playing a lot of tiebreaks here. I know it can take a lot of games or short ones as well, so I have to be ready for everything," he added further.

Earlier on August 22, Praggnanandhaa held his own against a fancied and higher-rated opponent to force a stalemate in 35 moves playing white pieces in game one of the final.

In the middle of a major time crunch, Praggnanandhaa was able to hold Carlsen for a draw in an objectively equal position with white pieces. The Indian played a solid game and agreed to a draw on move 35.

After round one, Praggnanandhaa reflected upon his performance and claimed he never found himself in trouble in the entire game against the Norwegian. "It'll be a fight. He'll definitely push very hard. I'll try to rest and come fresh, I think that's the best I can do," the Indian told FIDE after the match.

More to follow...