GM R.Praggnanandhaa defeats compatriot Arjun Erigaisi to reach FIDE World Cup 2023 semi-finals

Youngster is assured of a spot in the Candidates

Indian Grandmaster R.Praggnanandhaa overcame Arjun Erigaisi on Thursday in Baku, Azerbaijan. In the process, he became the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand in 2002 to reach the semi-finals of a Chess World Cup. No other Indian has managed to make it to the last four stage of the FIDE World Cup since Viswanathan Anand claimed victory in the first two editions of the tournament in 2000 and 2002.

Praggnanandhaa got the better of compatriot Arjun Erigaisi 5-4 via the sudden death tiebreak to reach the semi-finals of the FIDE World Cup 2023. Courtesy of the win, the 18-year-old will now face off against American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana. He remains the only Indian in the fray out of the four who made it to the quarterfinals.

The Chennai lad’s path to the semis included an upset win over world number two Hikaru Nakamura at the 2023 FIDE World Cup. Nakamura was eliminated in the tiebreakers after the two classical games failed to yield any result.

Praggnanandha, the first Indian since Anand to appear in the Candidates Tournament.

By booking a semifinal berth at the currently underway FIDE World Cup, the teenage sensation from Chennai is all but assured of a spot in the Candidates Tournament. With five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen expressing his intention to drop out of the Candidates event, Praggnanandhaa is set to be the first Indian since Vishwanathan Anand to feature in the prestigious event. 

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The top three finishes at the ongoing event will earn a direct entry to the 2024 Candidates event, where the challenger to current world champion Ding Liren will be unveiled. With Carlsen officially withdrawing from the eight-player 2024 Candidates tournament scheduled to be held in Toronto, Canada, between April 3-25, R.Praggananadhaa, Fabiano Caruana, and Nijat Abasov will fill the three available qualifying spots.

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