R. Praggnanandhaa decided to shake hands and accept a draw after Magnus Carlsen won the second quick game of the day. The first game being won by the Norwegian meant that World No. 1 Carlsen could finally add the World Cup to his extensive trophy collection. Carlsen was momentarily behind in the first game of the day, but he eventually took control and applied some time pressure to Praggnanandhaa. In the second game, Carlsen displayed even greater dominance.
R Praggnanandhaa wrote a fairy tale when he defeated two of the top three players in the world to advance to the final. But in the championship game, Praggnandhaa was up against a competitor who had previously put an end to countless fairy tale runs. However, Pragg successfully argued his case against Magnus Carlsen, demonstrating that the sky’s the limit for his professional success. Pragg goes with the runners-up title and a coveted spot in the Candidates tournament.
Still a Champion
Praggnanandhaa received a staggering sum of USD 80,000 (about 66,13,444) for placing second in the FIDE World Cup 2023. Carlsen of Norway will receive USD 110K (or around 90,93,551) for winning the World Cup in Baku.
To motivate Praggnanandhaa, our honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a special tweet on X,” We are Proud of Praggnanandhaa for his remarkable performance in the FIDE World Cup! He showcased his exceptional skills and gave a tough fight to the formidable Magnus Carlsen in the finals. This is no small feat. Wishing him the very best for his upcoming tournament.”
We are proud of Praggnanandhaa for his remarkable performance at the FIDE World Cup! He showcased his exceptional skills and gave a tough fight to the formidable Magnus Carlsen in the finals. This is no small feat. Wishing him the very best for his upcoming tournaments. pic.twitter.com/KXYcFRGYTO
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 24, 2023
The International Chess Federation praised Praggnanandhaa for his superb performance.
Praggnanandhaa is the runner-up of the 2023 FIDE World Cup! 🥈
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) August 24, 2023
Congratulations to the 18-year-old Indian prodigy on an impressive tournament! 👏
On his way to the final, Praggnanandhaa beat, among others, world #2 Hikaru Nakamura and #3 Fabiano Caruana! By winning the silver… pic.twitter.com/zJh9wQv5pS
Moreover, Former Indian Batsman Sachin Tendulkar posted a tweet to congratulate Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa.
Congratulations on an incredible tournament, @rpragchess!
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 24, 2023
Keep chasing your dreams and making India proud. ♟️🇮🇳 #FIDEWorldCup
Indian Cricketers and Bollywood Actors mention Praggnanandhaa to motivate and congratulate him for his fabulous performance.
Pragg. 👏👏🤗 you made us proud as usual. #praggnanandha @rpragchess
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) August 24, 2023
Hold your head high Praggnanandhaa. The whole nation is proud of you 🇮🇳🫡@rpragchess pic.twitter.com/YqUAOiNl6u
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) August 24, 2023
Runner-up in the #FIDEWorldCup2023 at the age of 18! 👏
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) August 24, 2023
The future is yours, Praggnanandhaa! 💙 pic.twitter.com/dECJibxNij
Triumph is not limited to the final result. For me, you are a true CHAMPION!
— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) August 24, 2023
Congratulations @rpragchess for being in top form throughout the #FIDEWorldCupFinal. More power to you, Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa! 🤗