Indian chess prodigy Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa etched his name into the elite circle of international chess champions by securing a sensational win at the Superbet Chess Classic 2025 in Bucharest, Romania — his first-ever tournament victory on the prestigious Grand Chess Tour.
The 18-year-old showcased incredible grit and composure under pressure, edging past France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in a tense tiebreak finale. After a solid draw in the final classical round against Levon Aronian, Praggnanandhaa tied for first place with Vachier-Lagrave and Alireza Firouzja, all finishing the tournament with 5.5 points.
This led to a three-way blitz tiebreak, where players battled it out with five minutes on the clock and a two-second increment per move.
In the opening blitz round, Praggnanandhaa held Firouzja to a difficult draw with the black pieces. Firouzja then shared points with Vachier-Lagrave in the second game, setting up a do-or-die match between the two remaining contenders.
In a dramatic finale, Praggnanandhaa broke through Vachier-Lagrave’s defenses, winning decisively and emerging as the outright champion. He tallied 1.5 points in the blitz round, ahead of Firouzja (1 point) and Vachier-Lagrave (0.5 points).
“It feels amazing. I didn’t do well last year, but getting some rest before the tiebreak definitely helped,” Praggnanandhaa said, referring to his previous year’s disappointing playoff results.
He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to his support system, especially GM Vaibhav Suri, his second during the tournament, and GM RB Ramesh, his long-time coach.
The victory also came with a handsome reward — a cash prize of USD 77,667 (approximately INR 66 lakh).
This win marks a significant milestone in Praggnanandhaa’s career and is a strong statement of his growing stature on the world chess stage.
Round 9 Highlights:
- Praggnanandhaa (IND) ½ – ½ Aronian (USA)
- Firouzja (FRA) 1 – 0 Deac (ROU)
- Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) 1 – 0 Duda (POL)
- Gukesh (IND) ½ – ½ Caruana (USA)
Tiebreak Results:
- Praggnanandhaa ½ – ½ Firouzja
- Firouzja ½ – ½ Vachier-Lagrave
- Praggnanandhaa 1 – 0 Vachier-Lagrave
It’s incredible to see Praggnanandhaa’s growth and resilience after last year’s setbacks. Holding Firouzja to a draw with black pieces is no small feat, and it shows his strategic depth. The do-or-die match must have been intense, but he handled it with such composure. His acknowledgment of the importance of rest before the tiebreak is a great reminder of how crucial mental preparation is in chess. This win truly cements his place as a rising star in the chess world. Do you think this victory will push him to aim for even higher titles in the near future? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on how this milestone might shape his career moving forward.