R Praggnanandhaa Scores Sensational Win in Norway Chess Opener
The Norway Chess tournament kicked off on Tuesday, May 28 with a thrilling first round, featuring dramatic finishes and a historic victory for Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa.
R Praggnanandhaa Triumphs in Armageddon Game
Praggnanandhaa, 18 years old, faced off against French prodigy Firouzja Alireza in a nail-biting first round. Their classical time control game ended in a draw, but the real excitement unfolded in the unique Armageddon format.
With white pieces, Praggnanandhaa had a crucial 10 minutes compared to Alireza’s seven. However, the pressure was immense – a draw would have awarded the win to Alireza. Praggnanandhaa displayed exceptional composure, exploiting a misstep by Alireza on the 26th move and converting his advantage into a clean victory in the endgame. This win marks a significant milestone for Praggnanandhaa, as it’s his first over-the-board win against his talented rival.
Draws Dominate Classical Games
Interestingly, all classical games in both the men’s and women’s sections ended in draws. This led to a series of six Armageddon games to determine the round’s winner in this exciting format.
Manus Carlsen, Nakamura Share Lead
World number one Magnus Carlsen played a cautious game against reigning world champion Ding Liren, resulting in a 14-move draw during classical time control. The Armageddon game turned into a marathon, lasting 68 moves, but Carlsen eventually secured the win, earning him 1.5 points for the round. Hikaru Nakamura also emerged victorious in the Armageddon against fellow American Fabiano Caruana.
Current Standings
After the first round, Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen, and Nakamura are tied for the lead with 1.5 points each. Alireza, Liren, and Caruana trail them by half a point.
Women’s Section Sees Mixed Results
The women’s section, with an equal prize fund of $161,000, also witnessed a blend of drawn classical games and thrilling Armageddons. Koneru Humpy of India secured a comfortable win with the black pieces in the Armageddon against Pia Cramling of Sweden. R Vaishali, Praggnanandhaa’s sister, displayed a strong performance but ultimately fell short against Women’s World Champion Wenjun Ju of China. Vaishali held a pawn advantage for a significant portion of the second game but succumbed to pressure in the time crunch.
Overall, the first round of the Norway Chess tournament was a day of strategic maneuvering, nail-biting finishes, and a historic victory for the young Indian star, Praggnanandhaa. As the tournament progresses, we can expect more intense battles and exciting displays of chess mastery from these world-class players.
