FIDE World Cup Final: Praggnanandhaa Ends First Game In Draw Against Magnus Carlsen

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa held his own against World No.1 Magnus Carlsen to secure a draw in the first classical game of the final of the FIDE World Cup Chess here on Tuesday. The 18-year old GM held his own against a fancied and higher-rated 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. "I don't think I was in any trouble at all," Praggnanandhaa said after the game. However Carlsen will have the advantage of playing white in the second game of the two-match classical series on Wednesday.

Praggnanandhaa said later in an interaction posted on the 'X' (formerly Twitter) handle of FIDE: "Rb8, I felt I should have done something there. But maybe this position is just solid and I don't have anything. What I played there was not the best try but I could not find anything." About tomorrow's second game against Carlsen, he said, "It'll be a fight. He'll definitely push very hard. I'll try to rest and come fresh, I think that's the best I can do." Carlsen, who has been under the weather due to food poisoning said that even though he had a break, he wasn't in best physical shape.