R Praggnanandhaa Clinches Superbet Classic Title in Thrilling Tiebreak Finish

May 17, 2025: Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa created history by winning his first-ever Grand Chess Tour title at the Superbet Classic in Bucharest, Romania. The 18-year-old chess prodigy defeated France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the final tiebreak game to secure the top prize, capping off a thrilling finish to a high-stakes tournament.

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Praggnanandhaa had earlier drawn his final classical round game against Armenian-American GM Levon Aronian, putting him in a three-way tie for first place with Alireza Firouzja and Vachier-Lagrave, all finishing with 5.5 points.

The tiebreaks were blitz games played with a five-minute clock and a two-second increment per move. In the opening tiebreak, Praggnanandhaa held Firouzja to a draw from a slightly difficult position with the black pieces. Firouzja also drew with Vachier-Lagrave, setting up a decisive final match between Praggnanandhaa and Vachier-Lagrave.

In that game, the young Indian grandmaster launched a crushing attack, breaking through the French GM’s defenses to seal victory and claim the title. Praggnanandhaa scored 1.5 points in the tiebreaks — half a point more than Firouzja and a full point more than Vachier-Lagrave.

This victory was particularly sweet for Praggnanandhaa, who faced disappointment in the previous edition of the Grand Chess Tour when he lost all his playoff games. Reflecting on his comeback, he said, “I didn’t do so well last time. I guess getting to rest a few hours before the tiebreak certainly helps.”

He also extended gratitude to his second, GM Vaibhav Suri, and his long-time coach GM RB Ramesh. For his triumph, Praggnanandhaa took home a prize of $77,667 (approximately ₹66 lakh).

With this win, Praggnanandhaa not only establishes himself as a rising force in international chess but also becomes one of the youngest players to win a Grand Chess Tour event, further fueling excitement around Indian chess.