Praggnanandhaa R has emerged as the champion of the Tata Steel Masters 2025, securing his maiden "Wimbledon of Chess" title.
In a dramatic turn of events, the World Champion Gukesh D, who had led for most of the tournament and entered the final round as a joint leader with 8.5/12, suffered a crucial loss as White against his compatriot Arjun Erigaisi
Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa, the other co-leader, had a chance to claim the title outright but needed to hold an inferior position against Vincent Keymer. However, he was unable to do so, and as a result, both Gukesh D and Praggnanandhaa finished with 8.5/13, tying for first place.
To determine the champion, a blitz tiebreaker was held. After the opponents traded blows in the first two games, Praggnanandhaa turned tables in the third sudden-death encounter to win down-a-pawn endgame and clinch the title.
This victory marks a major milestone in Praggnanandhaa’s career, further solidifying his place among the chess elite.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov netted 8/13 and came third.
The Challengers event saw the triumph of Thai Dai Van Nguyen, who scored an impressive 9.5/12. This stellar performance secured him a spot in next year’s Masters.
Photos: Tata Steel Chess, Jurriaan Hoefsmit
Official website: tatasteelchess.com/en
