R Praggnanandhaa Wins Tata Steel Masters Chess Title

R Praggnanandhaa emerged as the champion of the Tata Steel Masters chess tournament held in the Netherlands on February 2, 2025. He defeated D Gukesh 2-1 in a thrilling tie-breaker, claiming his first-ever Tata Steel Masters title. The intense final saw shocking twists, including upsets and an edge-of-the-seat finish. Praggnanandhaa’s victory is considered a milestone in his young career, with a significant contribution from fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi’s earlier win over Gukesh.

Key Highlights

Tata Steel Masters 2025

• Held in the Netherlands.
• Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh both finished the tournament with 8.5 points, leading to a tie-breaker.

Tie Breaker Match

• The match was contested over two games and a sudden-death decider.
• Praggnanandhaa won the tie-breaker 2-1, claiming his first-ever Tata Steel Masters title.
• Praggnanandhaa’s Appreciation for Arjun Erigaisi
• Praggnanandhaa cheekily thanked Arjun Erigaisi for defeating Gukesh in the first round, which led to the tie between him and Gukesh.

Upsets During the Tournament

• Both Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh suffered surprising losses during the tournament but managed to stay at the top.
• Gukesh lost to Arjun Erigaisi, and Praggnanandhaa lost to Germany’s Vincent Keymer.

Tie Breaker Games Breakdown

• First Game: Gukesh won due to a blunder by Praggnanandhaa, costing him a full rook.
• Second Game: Praggnanandhaa equalized and won with technical precision.
• Sudden-Death Game: Praggnanandhaa triumphed after Gukesh lost control, costing him a pawn and his last knight.

Gukesh’s Performance

• This was Gukesh’s second consecutive year of losing in the tiebreaker after sharing first place.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	R Praggnanandhaa Wins Tata Steel Masters Chess Title
Tournament	Tata Steel Masters Chess Tournament 2025
Winner	R Praggnanandhaa
Runner-up	D Gukesh
Final Score	2-1 (Tie-breaker)
Tie-breaker Structure	2 games and sudden-death decider
Praggnanandhaa’s First Title	Yes, this was his first Tata Steel Masters title
Significance	Praggnanandhaa’s victory is considered the highlight of his career