R Praggnanandhaa overcomes compatriot Arjun Erigaisi in World Cup quarters in blitz after repeated video games didn’t discover a winner

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated compatriot Arjun Erigaisi 5-4 through the sudden dying tie-break to enter the semifinals of the FIDE World Cup chess match right here on Thursday.

With the win, the 17-year outdated Praggnanandhaa booked a spot within the semifinals in opposition to American ace Fabiano Caruana and virtually secured a spot in subsequent 12 months’s Candidates occasion.

The teenaged chess star from Chennai, by nearly securing a spot within the Candidates match, can be the one different Indian aside from five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand to function within the Candidates.

With world No.1 Magnus Carlsen not prone to function within the Candidates, Praggnanandhaa might be taking part in within the match to determine the challenger to present world champion Ding Liren.

Praggnanandhaa had bounced again after shedding the primary recreation of the two-game classical collection to win the second on Wednesday to pressure the tie-break.

In the primary 5+3 blitz recreation, Praggnanandhaa performed incredible to take down Erigaisi.

Erigaisi hit again within the subsequent to degree the match.

Games three and 4 had been received by Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi respectively because the quarterfinal headed to a sudden dying decider. Interestingly, all video games had been received by gamers with black items.

Both the Indians confirmed nerves of metal, scoring wins in essential video games because the final eight conflict ebbed and flowed attributable to enterprising play by the duo.

Noted coach R B Ramesh mentioned on X (previously Twitter) after the match: “What an epic match! Well played both young lions! Proud of both players for their fighting spirit throughout! @rpragchess @ArjunErigaisi.” Two different Indians — 17-year outdated D Gukesh and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi — had crashed out within the quarterfinals, shedding to world No.1 Carlsen and Nijat Abasov respectively.

The prime three finishers within the match qualify for the Candidates occasion in 2024 to find out the challenger to Ding Liren.