A Teen Prodigy
In Baku, Azerbaijan, spectators are holding their breath today as the 2023 Chess World Cup Final is played out in a rapid-play tiebreaker: Five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, a 33-year-old Norwegian, will play 18-year-old Indian chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa -- with billions in India cheering on their teen hero.
When Pragg, as he is nicknamed, realized he had secured a first win against Carlsen last year at this time in a rapid-play online tournament -- Carlsen's first loss since he became world champion in 2013 -- Pragg covered his mouth with his hand in shock. But Pragg is not one too pause too long over celebrations:
“Even if I had time, I don’t think I would have celebrated because usually I don’t celebrate things too much because, OK, this is just a win, and it’s just one win, and it’s a rapid game, so there are a lot more things to do and a lot more things to work on,” Praggnanandhaa said. “It’s just one win, so it’s not like the end of something. And I think same goes to a loss. If you lose a game, it’s not like the end.”
Born and raised in Chennai, India, Pragg first took an interest in chess when his older sister, Vaishali, started playing at age 6. With her 2-year-old brother watching, Vaishali became a grandmaster in 2018 and an international master in 2021. When Pragg was 6 years old, he was second in the under-7 Indian championship before winning gold at the Asian Championships.
When he turned 7, Pragg secured the World Youth Chess Championship under-8 title in 2013, and in 2015, he claimed the under-10 World Youth Chess Championship title. He made history in 2016 when, at only 10 years old, he became the youngest-ever international chess master. In 2018, Pragg earned his way to becoming the second-youngest chess grandmaster at age 12. And now at age 18, Pragg is calmly playing against the reigning world champion's weaknesses as he bids for Carlsen's prized claim to the international title.
TheChess World Cup is a separate competition to thechess world championships.The world championships are heldannuallyandare a contest between the reigning champion and a contender, while theWorld Cup is held every two years and sees a series of head-to-head games whittle opponents down until a winner is crowned.
Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen will play two tie-breaker games today in a 25-minute rapid format where each player has a 10-second increment per move. If that does not provide a winner, Pragg and Carlsen will play two more games with a time control of 10 minutes for each player. If that also does not get a result, the time control will reduce to 5 minutes for each player plus 3-second increments per move. If the two are still tied, they will move into a "blitz" sudden-death style play.
As Pragg fought his way to this final game, former world champion and Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov showered Praggnanandhaa and his mother with praise via Twitter this week: “Congrats to @rpragchess —and to his mother. As someone whose proud mama accompanied me to every event, it’s a special kind of support! The Chennai Indian defeated two New York cowboys! He has been very tenacious in difficult positions,” Kasparov tweeted.
Whatever comes of today's match, Pragg's fierce determination and calm in the face of immense pressure are a lesson for us all. Do you rest within the definitions others have set for you, or are you willing to step through cultural boundaries, breaking expectations and creating new definitions as you live life fully?
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," Jesus reminds us in John 10:10. How are you living fully this week?
God bless,
Jennie