Chess World Cup: Carlsen wins first game against Gukesh; Arjun Erigaisi leads R Praggnanandhaa

Young Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh went down to world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in game one of their quarterfinal in the FIDE World Cup chess tournament on Tuesday. In another last eight clash, 19-year old GM Arjun Erigaisi pulled off a win in 53 moves over 18-year old GM R Praggnanandhaa to take a big step towards a spot in the semifinal. Carlsen took down the 17-year old Gukesh with black pieces showing his endgame mastery and gained the upper-hand over the Indian prodigy. The Norwegian superstar is one draw away from the semifinals. In the Praggnanandhaa-Erigaisi match, a clash between two Indian prodigies, the latter came up trumps with black pieces. Vidit Gujrathi, the fourth Indian player in the quarterfinals, was playing home favourite Nijat Abasov in another match. Four Indians are featuring in the last eight of the World Cup for the first time with the Praggnanandhaa-Erigaisi match-up ensuring one player from the country in the semi-finals. Each match consists of two classical games followed by tie-breaks in the event of a 1-1 tie (in classical). Anand hails historic moment with four Indians in quarter-finals

Legendary Viswanathan Anand hailed the remarkable feat of four Indian chess players entering the quarter-finals of the FIDE World Cup 2023, saying it is a “historic moment for Indian chess.” “It is a historic moment for Indian chess because we had a good hand, which is multiple players who are playing, who are all good… good enough level to qualify to the final stages,” said Anand in a video shared by chess.com. Anand, a five-time world champion, said the young players are taking Indian chess through a “happy time.” “I was hoping that at least one or two, simply statistically, will break through to the quarterfinals. But in fact, four of them have managed (to enter quarterfinals). So, it is a happy time for Indian chess, and I am happy,” he added.