Feb 23, 2022 - Sports

Indian chess sensation, 16, beats world champion Magnus Carlsen

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Indian chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, 12, laughs as he is celebrated by his school friends upon his arrival back to his school in Chennai on June 26, 2018 — Chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa at school in Chennai in 2018 after becoming a grandmaster. Photo: ArunSankar/AFP via Getty Images

India's teen chess grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa is winning widespread praise after becoming the youngest person to beat Magnus Carlsen since the Norwegian player became world champion in 2013.

The big picture: Praggnanandhaa failed to qualify for the Airthings Masters quarterfinals, which began on Wednesday, following his win over Carlsen in the rapid chess tournament. But Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "We are all rejoicing on the success of the young genius R Praggnanandhaa."

"Proud of his accomplishment of winning against the noted champion Magnus Carlsen. I wish the talented Praggnanandhaa the very best for his future endeavours," Modi added.
India's celebrated retired cricket star Sachin Tendulkar described Praggnanandhaa's win over Carlsen late on Monday as "magical." "You've made India proud!" Tendulkar added.

What he's saying: When asked on Chess24 he'd celebrate beating Carsen, Praggnanandhaa said: "I think it’s about just going to bed, because I don’t think I will have dinner at 2:30 in the morning."

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Indian chess sensation, 16, beats world champion Magnus Carlsen

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