R Praggnanandhaa shocks world no.1 Magnus Carlsen: All you need to know about India’s youngest Grandmaster – In Pics

Praggnanandhaa was hailed by many on the social media, including cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and All-India Chess Federation president Sanjay Kapoor, after he followed five-time former world champion Viswanathan Anand and P Harikrishna in getting the better of Carlsen. 

Zee Media Bureau | Feb 22, 2022, 12:21 PM IST

Teenaged Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa stunned world no.1, Magnus Carlsen, in the eighth round of the Airthings Masters online rapid chess tournament, becoming only the third from the country to clinch a victory over the Norwegian superstar.

The 16-year old prodigy was hailed by many on the social media, including cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and All-India Chess Federation president Sanjay Kapoor, after he followed five-time former world champion Viswanathan Anand and P Harikrishna in getting the better of Carlsen, the 31-year-old who is also the reigning world champion.

Praggnanandhaa won with black pieces in 39 moves in a Tarrasch variation game early on Monday to halt Carlsen's run of three straight wins. India's teen prodigy registered wins against fellow GMs Andrey Esipenko and Alexandra Kosteniuk in rounds 10 and 12 of the Airthings Masters on Monday. 

Here’s everything you need to know about Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa:

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Profile

Profile

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa was born on August 10, 2005 in Chennai. He is the younger sibling of Vaishali Rameshbabu, who is herself a chess player. She became a Woman Grandmaster (WGM) by completing her final norm in the Riga Technical University Open chess tournament in Riga, Latvia on 12 August 2018. She received her International Master (IM) title in 2021.

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Youngest Indian Grandmaster

Youngest Indian Grandmaster

Praggnanandhaa is now the youngest Indian Grandmaster. Before him, Parimarjan Negi at 13 years, four months, and 22 days had become India’s youngest Grandmaster. Vishwanathan Anand had become a Grandmaster at the age of 18 years.

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Youngest International Master

Youngest International Master

In 2016, Praggnanandhaa had become the youngest International Master at the age of 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days. He also won the World Youth Chess Championships Under-8 title in 2013, earning him the title of FIDE Master at the age of 7. He won the Under-10 title in 2015.

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Fifth-youngest person ever to achieve the title of Grandmaster

Fifth-youngest person ever to achieve the title of Grandmaster

A chess prodigy, Praggnanandhaa is currently the fifth-youngest person ever to achieve the title of Grandmaster. He got the title in 2018. He is behind Abhimanyu Mishra, Sergey Karjakin, Gukesh D and Javokhir Sindarov.

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Created history in 2018

Created history in 2018

Praggnanandhaa (12 years, 10 months, and 13 days) had become the second-youngest grandmaster in chess history in 2018. Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine had become the youngest Grandmaster at 12 years, seven months back in 1990.

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