19-year-old Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu secured his initial Grand Chess Tour championship at the Superbet Chess Classic Romania. In an exhilarating three-way playoff, he outmatched Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. This victory marks his second significant title in 2025, elevating him as a prominent competitor within the FIDE Circuit 2025.
The competition, featuring ten top-tier grandmasters, unfolded in Bucharest between May 7th and 16th. From the get-go, the contest was tight with no player holding a significant lead for numerous rounds. A crucial win for Praggnanandhaa occurred against Wesley So during the second to last round, propelling him a half-point ahead in the standings.
As the last match approaches, Praggnanandhaa held a slight advantage over Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Vachier-Lagrave, and Richard Firouzja by a full point. His game against Levon Aronian ended in a tie, guaranteeing him at least a tie for the top position.
As a passionate chess enthusiast, I found myself rooting for Caruana against World Champion Gukesh D. Despite our hopes for an outright victory, the match ended in a draw. On another board, Firouzja showcased bravery against Bogdan-Daniel Deac. Although he found himself in a disadvantageous position at one stage, his persistence paid off. Deac faltered on move 52, gifting Firouzja the win. Meanwhile, Vachier-Lagrave seized an opportunity presented by Jan-Krzysztof Duda’s mistake. He capitalized on it, winning the game and joining Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa in a thrilling three-way tie.
The championship’s title was determined in a one-off round-robin playoff. Each player had 5 minutes to make their moves, with an additional 2 seconds added for each move made. In the game between Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa, the match ended in a tie. Similarly, Vachier-Lagrave and Firouzja finished their game with equal points following a well-balanced Caro-Kann defense.
In a pivotal match, it was Praggnanandhaa versus Vachier-Lagrave, featuring an endgame with queens and rooks. Maxim overlooked the opportunity to swap rooks, which probably would have resulted in a stalemate. Shortly following this blunder, he made a crucial mistake. Seizing the moment, Praggnanandhaa clinched the game. This triumph granted him the Superbet Chess Classic championship. Keep tuned for more thrilling chess updates and other gaming/esports news, courtesy of TopMob, your go-to hub for all things gaming!
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2025-05-20 03:00