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