After an intense battle spanning three days and four games of nail-biting chess across different formats, Magnus Carlsen secured his long-awaited victory at the FIDE World Cup on Thursday after managing to overcome Indias chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa in a fiercely contested final that extended into a tie-breaker.Carlsens triumph was confirmed after the second game of the tiebreaker. Carlsen, who is ranked No. 1 in the FIDE rankings, won the first game and agreed to a draw in the second game, sealing the tiebreaker. The previous two matches, played on Tuesday and Wednesday, had both ended in draws for the players.🏆 Magnus Carlsen is the winner of the 2023 FIDE World Cup! 🏆Magnus prevails against Praggnanandhaa in a thrilling tiebreak and adds one more prestigious trophy to his collection! Congratulations! 👏📷 Stev Bonhage #FIDEWorldCup pic.twitter.com/sUjBdgAb7a— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) August 24, 2023Praggnanandhaa is the runner-up of the 2023 FIDE World Cup! 🥈Congratulations to the 18-year-old Indian prodigy on an impressive tournament! 👏On his way to the final, Praggnanandhaa beat, among others, world #2 Hikaru Nakamura and #3 Fabiano Caruana! By winning the silver… pic.twitter.com/zJh9wQv5pS— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) August 24, 2023The victory marks a significant milestone in Carlsens career, as he claimed his maiden FIDE World Cup title. Despite Praggnanandhaas efforts, the Norwegian maestros strategic prowess ultimately prevailed in the high-stakes match.Teen prodigy Praggnanandhaa defines odds, makes history at FIDE Chess World CupChennai native Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who just turned 18 in August, showcased remarkable skill and determination throughout the tournament. Although he fell short in the final, his journey was nothing short of impressive. Notably, his performance secured him a coveted spot in the prestigious Candidates Tournament, a significant step toward challenging world champion Ding Liren of China in the upcoming world chess championship.Despite his eventual loss, Praggnanandhaa made history by becoming the youngest-ever World Cup finalist. Seeded at number 31, he defied the odds by reaching the final of the World Cup, making him the lowest-seeded player to achieve such a feat.By clinching a place in the final, Praggnanandhaa became the third youngest player, following the legendary Bobby Fischer and Carlsen himself, to qualify for the esteemed Candidates tournament.In another development, former World Championship Challenger Fabiano Caruana secured a third-place finish in the Chess World Cup, beating Azerbaijans Nijat Abasov.
