Even a decade ago, if you were discussing the history of the royal game and its most brilliant players in a room full of chess aficionados, they would talk about the mightly Russians (erstwhile Soviets), like Mikhail Tal and Botvinnik the brilliant Americans like Bobby Fischer, the tenacious Polish players like Bartosz Socko, the strategic Chinese masterminds like Xie Jun and the illustrious Hungarians like the great Judith Polgar. These countries have boasted a plethora of chess geniuses over the years. All that while, we Indians had only one name on our lips to put forward against all global chess icons, whether from this generation or from the glorious past. That deserved name was none other than the five-time World Champion, Viswanathan Anand, the pride of our nation.
However, in recent years the global landscape of chess has evolved and its forefront is India. We are lucky to be the generation witnessing the most glorious days of Indian chess. This point was driven home recently when 18-year-old Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa beat World No.1 chess player, Magnus Carlsen for the first time in a classical match in the Norway Chess tournament. The Indian teen grandmaster's remarkable victory pushed the world no.1 Carlsen to the fifth spot in the points table. If you’re a chess aficionado, you know what a refined genius Carlsen is and that makes Praggnanandhaa’s triumph even greater. This is his second victory this year against Carlsen. He has beaten him previously in rapid/exhibition matches.
Carlsen began the game with an aggressive opening but Praggnanandhaa had answers to every trick Carlsen pulled off from his sleeve. The teenager's calm demeanor, even bordering on casual, at times, during the course of the match, exemplified his brilliance. It brought to mind the stark similarities during December of 2012 when a 13-year-old Carlsen beat legendary Russian grandmaster and the World No.1 at that time, Gary Kasparov, with such elegance and ease. Time marches on and the wheels of fortune turn. But when it comes to Praggnanandhaa, his talent has forged his fortune. We, at Homegrown, are ardent fans of the Indian grandmaster and wish him continued success in the years to come. I daresay say that the World No.1 spot will not elude Praggnanandhaa for too long now.
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