CHENNAI: Praggnanandhaa, the Indian chess grandmaster who secured a silver medal at the FIDE World Cup 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan, was warmly greeted upon his arrival at Chennai Airport. The scene outside the airport was vibrant, with students waving the tricolour flag and displaying 'World Cup Runner Up' banners to celebrate the young Indian prodigy.

Expressing his delight at the enthusiastic reception, Praggnanandhaa remarked, "I'm truly happy to witness such a turnout; it's a wonderful thing for the world of chess." Representatives from the All India Chess Federation and the State Government were present at the airport to extend a hearty welcome to the emerging star of India.

Praggnanandhaa's sister, Vaishali, shared her excitement about the heartfelt reception her brother received. She recalled a similar atmosphere a decade ago when Viswanathan Anand emerged victorious in the World Championship match. The fact that Praggnanandhaa is now receiving comparable adoration from the public fills her with joy.

In the final showdown of the FIDE World Cup, Praggnanandhaa showcased a remarkable performance against the reigning World No. 1, Magnus Carlsen. Despite his impressive efforts, Praggnanandhaa couldn't overcome Carlsen's prowess, resulting in Carlsen securing the title of the FIDE World Cup champion. As a consequence, the Indian chess grandmaster was awarded the position of runner-up for the 2023 FIDE World Cup.

Though Praggnanandhaa fell short in the final match, there's a silver lining in his qualification for the FIDE Candidates tournament. In the tie-breaker phase, Carlsen claimed victory in the first Rapid Chess game with the black pieces, followed by a draw in the second game with white pieces. Praggnanandhaa demonstrated his fighting spirit, yet ultimately Carlsen's wealth of experience proved decisive. Before this, Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen had tied in two Classical Chess games.

Looking ahead, the 2024 Candidates Tournament is slated to take place from April 2 to April 25, 2024, in Toronto, Canada. This eight-player chess tournament will determine the challenger for the 2024 World Chess Championship match. Praggnanandhaa's outstanding journey included a victory over World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura in a tie-breaker, propelling him to the final where he defeated World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana.

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