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D Gukesh Heartbroken After Stunning Tie-Break Loss to R Praggnanandhaa in Tata Chess Masters Final

Gukesh broke down after a shocking tie-breaker loss to Praggnanandhaa, who clinched the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2025 title.

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D Gukesh Heartbroken After Stunning Tie-Break Loss to R Praggnanandhaa in Tata Chess Masters Final

A significant moment occurred in Wijk aan Zee on Sunday when R Praggnanandhaa defeated D Gukesh in the playoffs to win the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2025 title. Both grandmasters encountered difficulties in Round 13, facing losses in their individual matches. Arjun Erigaisi showcased exceptional performance, achieving a quick win over Gukesh in only 31 moves, while Vincent Keymer outlasted Praggnanandhaa in a grueling seven-hour battle.

In the blitz playoffs, Gukesh started strong by winning the initial game, but Praggnanandhaa made an impressive recovery, winning the subsequent two games to secure the title. The result left Gukesh visibly distraught, his feelings evident on his face. Although he was the defending champion and had been leading the tournament earlier, a series of unfortunate results resulted in a tie-breaker situation, culminating in a devastating loss in the playoffs.

The crucial tie-breaker game concluded in a tense manner as Gukesh ran out of time, leaving him in a state of shock. His reaction, filled with astonishment, was unexpected both for the audience and the 18-year-old himself. He reclined in his chair, gazing at the ceiling, while Praggnanandhaa absorbed the unexpected ending.

In the Challengers section, GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen claimed victory. During the third tie-breaker game, Praggnanandhaa chose the London System, a tactic previously employed by Ding Liren. Initially, Gukesh seized a pawn advantage, but he overlooked a critical winning move—30…Bd6! —which allowed Praggnanandhaa to regain the pawn. The game reached an even position with both competitors maintaining a knight and three pawns each. However, as the pressure increased, Gukesh ultimately ran out of time, committing a significant blunder that sealed his loss.

After obtaining his victory, Praggnanandhaa shared his reflections, stating, “When I came here, I wanted to win the event. But the field was very strong. I didn’t really think about it much until yesterday. Can’t really express… I’m really happy. ”

Commenting on Arjun Erigaisi’s surprising win over Gukesh, he remarked, “I didn’t really expect (Arjun to beat Gukesh). Because at some point, it felt that Gukesh was actually better. When I saw the result (of Gukesh vs Arjun), I had already misplayed and I was in such a difficult position that I could not really do much than sit and defend. I didn’t think practically I had any chance in my own position. ”