GUWAHATI: Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, aged 19, claimed victory in the 87th Tata Steel Masters 2025 after defeating World Champion D Gukesh in a 2-1 tiebreaker. Both players ended the 14-player round-robin event with 8.5/13 points, setting the stage for the high-stakes finale on Sunday, February 2, in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.
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The final round of the tournament proved critical for both contenders. Gukesh suffered a loss to Arjun Erigaisi, while Praggnanandhaa, despite a grueling seven-hour battle, was unable to defeat Vincent Keymer. This left both players tied at the top, forcing a tiebreaker to determine the champion.
Praggnanandhaa's triumph marks a historic achievement, as he becomes only the second Indian to win the prestigious tournament, following Viswanathan Anand’s victory in 2006. The tiebreaker saw Gukesh falter, allowing Praggnanandhaa to seize the title.
Reflecting on his victory, Praggnanandhaa described the day as “crazy,” admitting that he did not expect to win after his tough final-round performance.
