Latest news with #Pragg
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Pragg-matic with ambition intact
R Praggnanandhaa R Praggnanandhaa once again stole a march over D Gukesh in an elite classical tournament this year. At Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, he needed Erigaisi Arjun to win the last game of the classical phase before beating world champion Gukesh in tiebreak playoffs. But at the Global Chess Tour (GCT) Romania tournament, Pragg left his more celebrated compatriot far behind. It was not a high-scoring tournament. World No. 7 Pragg (Elo 2758) needed just two wins (over Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Wesley So) in nine games to be in a three-way tie and then proved himself to be better than Frenchmen Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Lagrave in blitz playoff. He had lost all three games, including one against Gukesh, in last year's four-way playoff in the same tournament. Though Pragg reached the 2023 World Cup final and defeated Magnus Carlsen multiple times in speed chess, Gukesh and Arjun made more definitive progress in classical chess last year. Pragg is turning a new leaf now with solidity and pragmatism without compromising much on an ambitious approach. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Cost Of Amusement Park Equipment From Mexico Might Surprise You Amusement Park Equipment | search ads Click Here Undo Former seven-time national champion Pravin Thipsay told TOI: 'He played speculative chess in 2023 and thereabouts. The Candidates 2024 was a great opportunity which made him fully understand that speculative play can't be the strategy in a classical game. He now plays more accurate openings and consistently follows the strategic ideas in the sharp positions he chooses.' With two defeats and eight wins at Wijk and Bucharest in 22 games among elite rivals, what is he doing differently this year? 'Nothing specific,' Pragg said. 'I am trying to be more ambitious whenever I play, trying to go for tournament wins. Thanks to Ramesh sir too, when things were not going my way last year, we were trying to improve on things. I think we are seeing the results of that hard work.' Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
R Praggnanandhaa dominates Nodirbek Abdusattorov in Superbet chess classic
R Praggnanandhaa (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa demonstrated exceptional skill by defeating Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the second round of the Superbet chess classic . Playing with white pieces, Pragg displayed superior tactics against the Grunfeld defence , effectively utilising his central pawn structure. The Indian player maintained control after exchanging queens and showed excellent technique in the rook and opposite-coloured bishop endgame. Operation Sindoor India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan India-Pakistan tensions: Delhi airport issues travel advisory Operation Sindoor: Multiple explosions heard at several Pakistan air bases Pragg secured a convincing victory and appears well-positioned for further success. In another match, D Gukesh , who holds the distinction of being the youngest world champion , secured his second consecutive draw against Romania's Deac Bogdan-Daniel. Despite wielding white pieces and employing various strategies, Gukesh was unable to break through the Romanian's solid defence in what proved to be an intense contest that ultimately ended in a draw.
