D Gukesh Left Devastated After Shocking Tie-Breaker Loss to R Praggnanandhaa at Tata Chess Masters

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History was made on Sunday in Wijk aan Zee as R Praggnanandhaa triumphed over D Gukesh in the playoffs to claim the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2025 title. Both grandmasters faced setbacks in Round 13, with Gukesh losing to Arjun Erigaisi in 31 moves and Praggnanandhaa falling to Vincent Keymer after a marathon seven-hour battle.

The excitement intensified during the blitz playoffs, where Gukesh secured an early lead by winning the first game. However, Praggnanandhaa bounced back, clinching the next two games to emerge victorious. Gukesh was visibly devastated by the result, his emotions written clearly on his face. Despite leading earlier in the tournament, his late struggles led to a tie-breaker, ultimately ending in crushing defeat.

In the final tie-breaker game, Gukesh’s time ran out, leaving him stunned as Praggnanandhaa claimed the win. The young Indian grandmaster, who had been on top, slumped in disbelief, looking up at the ceiling while his opponent, equally surprised, absorbed the victory.

The Challengers section was won by GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen. In the tie-breaker, Praggnanandhaa mirrored Ding Liren’s London System opening. Gukesh gained an advantage with a pawn-up endgame but missed the critical 30…Bd6! allowing Praggnanandhaa to regain his pawn. The game reached a tense stalemate with both players left with equal material, but Gukesh’s time ran out, leading to a painful blunder and a heartbreaking loss.

Reflecting on his win, Praggnanandhaa said, “I came here wanting to win, but the competition was tough. I didn’t think too much about it until yesterday, and now, I’m just really happy.” On Arjun’s surprising victory over Gukesh, he shared, “I didn’t expect Arjun to win. At one point, I thought Gukesh was in a better position. But when I saw the result, I realized I had misplayed and was in such a tough spot that I just had to defend.”

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