WATCH: Praggnanandhaa uses Magnus Carlsen's own trick against world no.1 in Chess WC final

Following an intense competition lasting over an hour, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and the world's top-ranked player, Magnus Carlsen, settled for a draw in the second game of the Chess World Cup Final in Azerbaijan's Baku. It became evident from the initial moves that Carlsen's strategy was geared towards securing a draw, with the intention of advancing to tie-breakers scheduled for Thursday.

Even the renowned Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand had suggested that Carlsen, playing with the white pieces, might opt for a draw after looking at his initial moves. Observers noted that Carlsen's approach could be attributed to his battle with food poisoning. Consequently, he aimed to extend the match to a third day in order to attain optimal fitness and concentration levels. 

3 things you need to know

• Praggnanandhaa is the second Indian player to reach the Chess World Cup final
• He is the youngest player ever to reach the FIDE Chess World Cup final
• Both players are eyeing their maiden Chess World Cup title

Also Read: 'It Is Good To See So Many People Following Chess': R. Praggnanandhaa On Humongous Viewership Of Chess WC Final

Praggnanandhaa uses Carlsen's own trick against him

During the match, R Praggnanandhaa used Magnus Carlsen's own trick against the world no. 1 ranked player. Praggnanandhaa delayed his reply to Carlsen's first move - 1.e4. Carlsen has used the same trick on his opponents on multiple occasions.  Both Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen executed 30 moves apiece before reaching a mutual agreement to declare the match a draw. Their next encounter is scheduled for Thursday, featuring games with shorter time controls.

In the preceding Game 1 held on Tuesday, a draw was also the outcome, but it unfolded over a more extended duration, as Magnus Carlsen, playing with black pieces, aimed to secure a victory. In Game 2, Praggnanandhaa, maneuvering with the black pieces, initially held an advantage in terms of time management. However, he encountered difficulties in capitalizing on this advantage, ultimately facing time constraints as the match reached its conclusion.

Also Read: 'It Is Good To See So Many People Following Chess': Praggnanandhaa On Humongous Viewership Of Chess WC Final

Praggnanandhaa's road to final

In the tie-breaker semi-final round, Praggnanandhaa secured a 3.5-2.5 victory over the world's third-ranked player, Fabiano Caruana. Magnus Carlsen, on the other hand, clinched his spot in the championship match by triumphing over Azerbaijan's Nijat Abasov in the semi-final. 

Image: Twitter/FIDE_Chess