Chess Candidates Event 2024 Spherical 3: R Praggnanandhaa emerged victorious within the battle between two Indian grandmasters in Spherical 3 of the Candidates chess event. The 18-year-old bounced again from his second spherical defeat to compatriot Gukesh by beating Vidit Santosh Gujrathi in 45 strikes.
Pragg and his household had extra purpose to cheer as his sister, R Vaishali, additionally earned a victory in Spherical 3 over Nurgyul Salimova, after she had suffered defeat yesterday.
The seeds of Praggnanandhaa’s victory had been sown as early because the fourth transfer the place he pushed his pawn ahead to the f5 sq. — it was an unorthodox transfer within the Ruy Lopez. The engine referred to as the transfer an inaccuracy as quickly as Pragg moved it.
On the FIDE commentary, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand referred to as the transfer a “Delayed Schliemann”.
“Pragg is simply being very provocative,” stated Anand earlier than breaking down what {the teenager} was aiming to realize with the transfer: “He’s baiting Vidit. He’s saying ‘ what? You wish to get me?’ That kinda factor. It’s fairly doubtless that Vidit will know one thing about it, as a result of this line has been performed by Surya (Shekhar Ganguly, who’s Vidit’s coach for the Candidates). However does he bear in mind it at the moment? Pragg is saying I’m open for battle. I’m feeling fortunate at the moment punk!”
INTERACTIVE: You’ll be able to try how the Spherical 3 sport between Vidit and Praggnanandhaa performed out
On Twitter, grandmaster Srinath Narayanan tweeted: “Surya had proven me this variation a couple of years in the past. I ponder if he had proven this variation to Vidit.”
Later, whereas analysing the sport, Anand stated: “There have been some dramatic moments in at the moment’s Candidates video games, most of them got here within the Vidit vs Pragg sport.”
What Praggnanandhaa stated about his plans
Within the post-match press convention, Praggnanandhaa and Vidit got here collectively to analyse the sport.
There, speaking about his opening transfer, Praggnanandhaa stated: “I wished to play one thing fascinating after yesterday’s sport (the place he misplaced to Gukesh). This can be a very fascinating line the place white might be higher if it performs precisely.”
Praggnanandhaa revealed he had studied the road within the morning itself and knew what to do when white reclaims the f4 sq. along with his knight. Nevertheless, it took him a while to remember what the correct subsequent transfer was.
“There are lots of prospects for white, however I couldn’t bear in mind what to do when he performed knight takes f5. It took me a while to remember that I play d6, which is essential, in any other case black might be misplaced,” stated Praggnanandhaa.
How different specialists reacted
“Pragg’s performed a totally insane variation in Spanish,” remarked Hikaru Nakamura whereas he was being interviewed about his views on his personal draw in opposition to Nijat Abasov.
Praggnanandhaa’s aggressive transfer additionally surprised specialists. IM Rakesh Kulkarni, who’s a part of Chess.com’s commentary panel for his or her dwell broadcasts on YouTube of the continued FIDE Candidates event, referred to as it a “Mouse-drop second”.
On the Chess.com stream, grandmaster Peter Leko stated: “I’m speechless! I’m purported to be a Ruy Lopez professional, however positively I haven’t seen this place within the final 25 years!”
American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky added that the transfer is “thought of to be one of the vital doubtful responses to the Ruy Lopez!”
However the transfer labored wonders for Pragg. Vidit was continually below time bother within the sport and finally misplaced after 45 strikes.
