Pragg’s Blitz

India’s teenage chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa pulled off a stunning victory at the Superbet Classic in Romania, winning the tournament after a dramatic three-way blitz tie-break against top global contenders Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Alireza Firouzja. This marks the 18-year-old grandmaster’s biggest classical tournament triumph and a strong start to the 2025 Grand Chess Tour.

The tournament concluded with Praggnanandhaa, MVL, and Firouzja tied at the top after nine rounds. In the final round, Praggnanandhaa played out a solid draw against American veteran Levon Aronian. 

Meanwhile, Firouzja and MVL scored crucial wins to join Praggnanandhaa at the top. Firouzja staged a gritty comeback against Romanian GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac after struggling in the middlegame. MVL capitalised on a move by Jan-Krzysztof Duda to seal his place in the tiebreak.

In the blitz deciders, all eyes were on the young Indian as he faced Firouzja in the first game. That clash ended in a tense draw, followed by another stalemate between MVL and Firouzja. With everything riding on the final game, Praggnanandhaa rose to the occasion and outplayed Vachier-Lagrave in a clinical blitz performance to take the title.

With this win, Praggnanandhaa not only cements his position among the game’s elite but also sends a strong signal ahead of future legs in the Grand Chess Tour. His composure under pressure and strategic clarity have earned praise from chess fans and analysts alike.

It’s a major leap for the Chennai prodigy, who continues to make India proud on the global stage.