Praggnanandhaa becomes first Indian to win Grand Chess Tour title

• Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to clinch the Grand Chess Tour title, beating Fabiano Caruana of the USA at St. Louis in the United States on August 28.

• Praggnanandhaa won a cash prize of $200,000.

• The title win guaranteed Praggnanandhaa a spot in the next year’s Grand Chess Tour along with Caruana, and another American Wesley So, who defeated Vincent Keymer of Germany 18-12 to take the third place.

• The Grand Chess Tour is a circuit of international events, each demonstrating the highest level of organisation for the world’s best players.

• Earlier this year, Praggnanandhaa had become the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title, a campaign that featured two wins over world number one and tournament favourite Magnus Carlsen.

• The 21-year-old from Chennai has been mentored by five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand.