R Praggnanandhaa becomes a world champion days after losing Chess World Cup final

In the debut FIDE World Rapid Team Championship, WR Chess emerged victorious with an impressive record of two draws and ten wins out of twelve matches, securing the championship title with a round to spare. The WR Chess team consisted of India's rising star Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. Team Freedom secured the second position, while the Indian squad, MGD1, claimed the third spot. WR Chess accumulated a total of 22 matchpoints, followed closely by Freedom with 20 points and MGD1 with 18.

3 things you need to know

• Praggnanandhaa recently secured the runners-up title at Chess World Cup
• The 18-year-old became the youngest ever to appear in a Chess World Cup final
• He lost the final to Norway's Magnus Carlsen, the former world champion 

Also Read: 'Didn't Even Know' Praggnanandhaa's Mother Shares Initial Reaction To Her Viral Images

Praggnanandhaa becomes world champion

The championship honors for the first-place finish included a coveted cup, medals, and a substantial prize of 100,000 Euros. Team Freedom received 60,000 Euros for their second-place finish, and MGD1 earned 40,000 Euros for their third-place performance. Additional recognition went to Team Armenia, receiving 25,000 Euros for their fourth-place finish, while the surprise package of Germany and Friends claimed fifth place and a prize of 12,500 Euros.

The FIDE World Rapid Team Championship winners, @wr_chess. pic.twitter.com/JkP34rY4tb

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) August 28, 2023

Impressively, WR Chess dominated in 10 of the 12 matches, overcoming formidable opponents such as Freedom, Kompetenzakademie Allstars, and ASV AlphaEchecs Linz. Their only challenge was a draw against Armenia in Round 10, with Vincent Keymer's last-minute rescue preventing a defeat.

Crucially, in Round 11, WR Chess triumphed against ASV AlphaEchecs Linz with a resounding 5:1 score, reaching 21 matchpoints. Meanwhile, Freedom's draw against the Chess Pensioners dashed their hopes of catching up. This solidified WR Chess's championship title even before the final round, a remarkable accomplishment in such a competitive field.

Apart from Praggnanandhaa, the WR Chess team included Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Vincent Keymer, Hou Yifan, and Alexandra Kosteniuk, all stalwarts of chess. 

Also Read: R Praggnanandhaa Adorable Image With His Mother Featuring Chess World Cup Medal

Praggnanandhaa, India's rising star

Note, Praggnanandhaa recently secured the runners up title in the FIDE Chess World Cup final. He lost the summit clash against former world champion Magnus Carlsen. Praggnanandhaa is only the second Indian player to play in the Chess World Cup final after Viswanathan Anand. The veteran Indian player won the first two editions of the World Cup in 2000 and 2002 respectively. 

Image: Twitter/photochess