Chess World Cup: Winner to be decided on Aug 24 as second game between Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa ends in draw

In the second game of FIDE Chess World Cup, Magnus Carlsen took a quiet draw with white against India's R Praggnanandhaa, sending the final to tiebreaks. The winner will now be decided on August 24.

Carlsen had the advantage of playing white in the second game of the two-match classical series.

However, in the first classical game at the finale, Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa held his own against Magnus Carlsen to secure a draw at the FIDE World Cup Chess on Tuesday. The 18-year old held his own against the World No.1 as his opponent and forced a stalemate in 35 moves playing white pieces.

In the middle of a major time crunch, Praggnanandhaa was able to hold Carlsen for a draw in an objectively equal position with white pieces. The Indian played a solid game and agreed to a draw on move 35.

Praggnanandhaa defeated World No 3 Fabiano Caruana to reach the final of the FIDE World Cup, and his mother was also present at the event to witness her son's triumph.

The Indian teenager became only the second player from the country to reach the final of the world cup after the legendary Viswanathan Anand and qualified for the Candidates tournament in 2024.

(With agency inputs)