GM Pranav V from Chennai again wins international tournament while playing another, sets up clash with Pragg

Speaking to South First, Pranav said, “I was just trying to play the game and did not think much about the result because reaching the finals was great for me. I was trying to play the games and focusing on them. In the second game, he (Raunak) was doing better but he made some mistakes.”

Congratulations to Pranav on winning the 2022 #ChallengersChess Tour after beating Raunak Sadhwani 3:0 in the final! He’ll now go forward to play an over-the-board match this December in Israel against his Indian countryman Praggnanandhaa: https://t.co/1H5O7zF4ko #c24live pic.twitter.com/YImkZa48LG

— chess24.com (@chess24com) October 30, 2022

The  Challengers Chess tour is part of the online chess tournaments conducted by the Norwegian World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen’s company — Play Magnus group — after the Covid pandemic broke out.

Earlier in October, Pranav won a gold medal playing for India at the World U-16 Youth Olympiad in Azerbaijan. At the same time, he was decimating opponents in the 2022 Magnus Academy Challenge, an online event, to qualify for the Challengers Chess Tour.

Related: Pranav wins gold, finishes first in two strong international tournaments at the same time

One-sided victory

Pranav qualified for the final four after winning the Magnus Academy Challenge.

Pranav V after winning a top board gold representing India at the 2022 World Youth U-16 Chess Olympiad (Pranav V/Twitter)

He had knocked out Russia’s top seed Andrey Esipenko 2.5–1.5 in the semi-finals on 29 October whereas Sadhwani had beaten the youngest player in the event — Ukraine’s 13-year-old Ihor Samunenkov — 3-0.

In the one-and-a-half-hour finals, Pranav got off to a perfect start with two straight wins against Sadhwani. Pranav then overpowered his opponent with the black pieces in the third game.

Considered the strongest-ever female chess player, Hungarian grandmaster Judit Polgar, who was commentating on the match for Chess24, said, “Very impressive play by Pranav. In crucial moments he was really doing very well. He was extremely motivated and I think his mindset and focus were better here.”

The power of India in chess is amazing, and it is set to grow. Pranav won the #ChallengersChess Tour 2022, and he will face in Dec with his countryman @rpragchess. Congratulations to Pranav, I am looking forward to this game!❤🤗#ChessConnectsUs #chess24 #chesstalents pic.twitter.com/aMConmEstV

— Judit Polgar (@GMJuditPolgar) October 31, 2022

Spanish grandmaster Pepe Cuenca, another commentator, said, “3-0 for Pranav is such an amazing performance.”

Pranav to face Praggnanandhaa in Israel

With this win, the Chennai prodigy has qualified for the mega Julius Baer Challenger Championship.

Pranav will face last year’s winner and fellow grandmaster from Chennai R Praggnanandhaa (17), who defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen three times in just one match earlier this year in one of the online events.

Pranav V (top left) was felicitated by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin after becoming a GM along with the Indian CWG contingent (CMO Tamil Nadu/Twitter)

The $10,000 (₹8.28 lakh) prize money match will be played from 11 December to 14 December in Tel Aviv, Israel, with the winner receiving $6,000.

“I will start preparing for the match against Pragg (Praggnanandhaa) once the Asian Continental Chess Championship is over,” said the Class 11 student.

Meanwhile, Pranav also secured a place in next year’s Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, where he will get the opportunity to match wits against some of the best players in the world of chess.