NEW DELHI: Chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa made headlines by securing the number one spot among India's chess players following his impressive victory over World champion Ding Liren at the 2024 Tata Steel Chess tournament.
The 18-year-old defeated the reigning champion with the black pieces, and surpassed the legendary Viswanathan Anand to claim the top position in India.
Praggnanandhaa expressed his surprise at the outcome, stating, "I felt I equalized very easily, and then somehow things started to go wrong for him. Even after I won the pawn, I felt it should be holdable."
The young chess sensation, who started playing at the age of 5, emphasized the significance of defeating a world champion, saying, "The first time winning against a world champion in classical chess feels good."
In 2018, Praggnanandhaa became India's youngest Grandmaster and the world's second-youngest at the age of 12. Known for his exceptional skills and achievements, he is the fifth-youngest person ever to attain the title of Grandmaster.
Remarkably, his elder sister, R Vaishali, is also a Grandmaster, making them the world's first-ever brother-sister GM duo.
Meanwhile, in the Masters category of the Tata Steel Chess tournament, Grandmaster Anish Giri emerged as the sole leader heading into the first rest day.
Giri's strategic moves and victory over D Gukesh contributed to his commanding position in the tournament.
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(With inputs from ANI)
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