Indian chess sensation R. Praggnanandhaa made headlines again by defeating world number 2, Fabiano Caruana, at the Norway Chess 2024 tournament. This victory, a first for Praggnanandhaa against Caruana in the classical format, follows his earlier win against world number 1 and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in round 3.

Praggnanandhaa Climbs FIDE Rankings

With this impressive win, Praggnanandhaa has climbed into the top-10 of the FIDE rankings and currently holds the third spot in the tournament standings with 8.5 points. He trails behind Carlsen, who has 9 points, and Hikaru Nakamura, who leads with 10 points. Carlsen capitalized on a late blunder from Alireza Firouzja, while Nakamura secured a victory over reigning world champion Ding Liren to top the leaderboard.

Vaishali Shines in Women’s Category

Adding to the celebrations for Indian chess, Praggnanandhaa’s sister, Vaishali, emerged victorious in the Armageddon round against China’s Lei Tingjie. Vaishali leads the women’s section with 10 points, followed closely by Anna Muzychuk with 9 points and Ju Wenjun with 7.5 points. Her performance has also propelled her up the FIDE rankings, bringing her just five points away from entering the top-10.

India’s young chess talents, R. Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali, continue to make waves on the international stage with their outstanding performances. As they climb the ranks and secure notable victories, they are bringing pride to the nation and inspiring future generations of chess players.