Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated World Champion Gukesh D to win the Tata Steel Masters 2025 title after a tense tiebreaker. The 19-year-old from Chennai made a strong comeback to claim the victory.
Both players finished with 8.5 points after 13 rounds. Gukesh, the 18-year-old world number three, was leading the tournament but lost to Arjun Erigaisi in the 13th round. Praggnanandhaa also faced a loss to Germanyās Vincent Keymer, leaving both players tied at the top.
Although Praggnanandhaa had the chance to take the lead outright, he was unable to hold a weaker position against Keymer. This led to both players finishing with 8.5/13, and a tiebreaker was required.
In the tiebreaker, the first two games saw both players winning one game each. In the deciding sudden-death game, Praggnanandhaa, despite being down a pawn, outplayed Gukesh in the endgame, securing the victory and the title.
Praggnanandhaaās win shows his resilience and skill, coming back after a loss and winning under pressure. Gukesh also performed strongly throughout the tournament, showcasing his potential as a future world champion.
Match Statistics:
- Total points after 13 rounds: Praggnanandhaa 8.5/13, Gukesh 8.5/13
- Tiebreaker: Praggnanandhaa won 2-1
- Final game: Praggnanandhaa won despite being down a pawn in the endgame.