R Praggnanandhaa breaks silence on Magnus Carlsen's table slam after D Gukesh loss: 'Is it a good thing? Maybe not'
When
Magnus Carlsen
slammed his fist on the table after a shocking loss to D Gukesh at the elite Norway Chess tournament, the moment went viral — a rare, raw display of frustration from a modern-day chess titan.
To many, it was a sign that the young Indian brigade is finally rattling the very foundation Carlsen built.
But for 19-year-old Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, the incident was something else entirely: a reminder of just how far one must go to reach that level of passion and dominance.
"Yes, it was an instinctive reaction. I think it does happen to players. I've done it sometimes, but rarely," Praggnanandhaa told PTI.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
"I mean, it's (me hitting the table) not as powerful as Magnus because he's a strong guy, but Gukesh has done it and many others. It's just an instinctive reaction because you're so focused that it just comes out.
"But, I mean, is it a good thing? Maybe not. I don't think so because I guess it's not good. (Having said that), I think so many people got to know that something like this happened and it became such a big thing on the internet.
"And, I think it's good for the game in a way because a lot of people got to know that there was such a tournament going on and that such a dramatic game happened.
"So, I think there are some good things and bad things, but I think overall, chess is growing. That's what matters."
"I think Magnus is still the best player in the world. There's no question about it," Praggnanandhaa added. "Every time he plays, he's the favourite.
His performance — like winning 9 out of 9 in the Grand Slam Freestyle — that's something only he can do. It's just brilliant."
Poll
Which aspect of Praggnanandhaa's game has improved the most?
Confidence
Calmness under pressure
Strategic thinking
Yet, while Carlsen remains the benchmark, Praggnanandhaa's own rise has been just as headline-worthy.
After a quiet 2024, the teenager has exploded into form this year, winning three major classical titles — the Tata Steel Masters, Superbet Classic in Bucharest, and the UzChess Cup Masters — and leapfrogging both world champion Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi to become India's highest-rated player at World No.
4.
So what changed?
'I wasn't able to win as many games as I would have liked to (last year), but yeah, I'm much more confident now and much more ambitious than earlier. And, hopefully, I'll make it to the Candidates,' said Praggnanandhaa.
READ ALSO:
Exclusive | No Magnus Carlsen in India! Freestyle Chess event called off over lack of sponsors
"I'm not sure how to answer that. But, I mean, I try to give my best in every tournament, and this year has been going my way so far."
It's not just the titles, but the manner of his victories — two of them coming through nerve-wracking tie-breaks — that point to a more seasoned, composed player.
Exclusive | Arjuna Awardee Vantika Agrawal: 'People still ask, 'Chess is fine, but what do you really do?''
'I do think tie-breaks require some luck. Because there were moments where I needed them. But I think being calm also helps in such situations where you are playing for high stakes in such a short time. I do feel the tension. It's not like I don't feel it. But I'm able to play much more calmer than my opponents," he added.
That measured response mirrors his approach to the Candidates race — the gateway to a world championship match.
"Yes, there are different (several) spots, of course. I am currently leading (the race for a Candidates spot) but there is still a lot of fight till December. But I think, I mean, I will also be playing the Grand Swiss and the World Cup. So, if I can make it in one of those, that will be better because I don't have to wait till December," he continued.
Still, he's acutely aware of the high standards set by his peers.
'But, I think, overall, we (Indians) are doing well. Gukesh winning the World Championship, his performance last year, he won gold in the Olympiad, he won the Candidates... and Arjun crossing 2800 in an exceptional last year. We are also inspiring each other," Pragg said.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
23 minutes ago
- Business Standard
England vs India LIVE SCORE updates, 2nd Test Day 1: ENG win the toss, invite IND to bat first
3:49 PM 2nd Test Day 1 | IND vs ENG LIVE SCORE UPDATES: Jaiswal shifting gears Over Summary: 0 4 0 0 0 0; India (1st Innings): 9/0 after 4 overs; Yashasvi Jaiswal 8 (13), KL Rahul 1 (11) Carse continues the attack Ball 6- Dot ball. Four runs from the over. Ball 5- Jaiswal with a solid defence. No run Ball 4- Jaiswal is not distubing anything not in his arc. No run Ball 3- Jaiswal is now happy to leave the ball. He is looking in good touch Ball 2- Jaiswal cuts the ball to deep backwrad point for four runs Ball 1- Jaiswal went for the big hit but fails to make any connection. No run 3:46 PM 2nd Test Day 1 | IND vs ENG LIVE SCORE UPDATES: Maiden over Over Summary: 0 0 0 0 0 0; India (1st Innings): 5/0 after 3 overs; Yashasvi Jaiswal 4 (7), KL Rahul 1 (11) Woakes continues the attack Ball 6- Another dot to end the maiden over. Ball 5- Good length ball from Woakes cutting away from stumps and Rahul removes his bat from the line. No run Ball 4- Woakes goes back to fifth stump line and Rahul is happy to leave. No run Ball 3- Rahul plays the ball straight to man at mid on. No run Ball 2- Rahul defends the ball with soft hands. No run Ball 1- Big LBW appeal against Rahul and umpire turns it down. ENG decides against the review. 3:15 PM 2nd Test Day 1 | IND vs ENG LIVE SCORE UPDATES: Indian skipper on changes We would've chosen to bowl first as well. If there's anything in this pitch, it's likely to assist on Day 1. We've made three changes — Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep come in. Jasprit Bumrah is being rested to manage his workload. Although we had a decent break before this match, we're eyeing the third Test at Lord's, where we expect the pitch to offer more for him. We considered playing Kuldeep Yadav, but after evaluating our lower-order performance in the previous game, we opted to strengthen the batting instead. 3:02 PM 2nd Test Day 1 | IND vs ENG LIVE SCORE UPDATES: England playing 11 for the match 3:00 PM 2nd Test Day 1 | IND vs ENG LIVE SCORE UPDATES: Toss underway England skipper Ben Stokes and Indian skipper Shubman Gill have made their way to the ground as the toss for the second Test mach is now underway. Load More Connect with us on WhatsApp
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
29 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Why leaving Kuldeep Yadav out of playing 11 for 2nd Test can hurt India?
As India prepare for the second Test at Edgbaston following their five-wicket defeat in the series opener, skipper Shubman Gill's playing 11 decisions have already raised eyebrows. The exclusion of premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah was on expected lines due to workload management, but it is the omission of Kuldeep Yadav that has caused the most stir. In the absence of Bumrah, the Indian attack is already lacking experience and incisiveness. Leaving out Kuldeep, a proven match-winner with unique skills and a growing record in red-ball cricket, might be a strategic misstep — especially against England's fearless 'Bazball' batting approach. Edgbaston favours spin, data proves it Over the past two decades, Edgbaston has been one of the more spinner-friendly pitches in England. It is the only English venue this century where opposition spinners have taken over 90 wickets at a strike rate below 60 and an average under 30. Visiting slow bowlers have averaged 29.4 per wicket at this ground — the best among all English venues. The match-winning impact of spin was evident during Australia's 2023 victory here, when Nathan Lyon returned two four-wicket hauls to script the visitors' success. Statistically, Edgbaston offers the best strike rate for visiting spinners (55.1) among all Test grounds in England since 2000. Against that backdrop, Kuldeep's absence feels puzzling, especially considering his strengths in breaking partnerships and his ability to operate in long spells. Kuldeep's numbers demand recognition Kuldeep Yadav has been quietly effective in the longest format. He has taken 13 wickets in his last six Tests, and his overall average is an impressive 21.18 in 2024. What makes him especially valuable is his wrist-spin — a rare commodity in Test cricket, particularly in England, where a specialist wrist-spinner has not played a Test in five years. Since the start of the Bazball era in June 2022, England have shown vulnerability to wrist-spin. They average only 30.9 against this variety in this period — a number that suggests this could have been an opportunity for India to challenge England's aggression with a bowler capable of turning the tide. An Indian team insider reportedly said that Kuldeep has "been bowling at his peak" and that 'leaving him out in these conditions might be overly cautious.' Bazball needs a disruptor, not a containment plan What India need at Edgbaston is not containment, but disruption. England's approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum has centred on relentless pressure with the bat, often scoring at over four runs per over. Their scoring rate in home Tests has crossed 4.5 on multiple occasions since 2022, and pacers — especially second-string ones — have often been taken apart. In fact, Edgbaston has the highest economy rate for visiting pacers (4.96) across all English venues during the Bazball era. Kuldeep's skill set — flight, dip, and variations — makes him one of the few bowlers in India's ranks who could actually force a mistake rather than wait for one. Without Bumrah, that role becomes even more crucial. England rarely fall twice A deeper look at England's record under Stokes reveals a worrying trend for opponents. In their 21 home Tests since June 2022, England have only been bowled out twice in a match on two occasions. Unsurprisingly, they ended up winning both those Tests. The challenge of claiming 20 wickets against a Bazball unit is immense — and requires more attacking intent than India seem to have selected in their XI. Conservative call could backfire The choice to play it safe without Kuldeep appears to lean towards caution rather than strategy. It is a reflection of a defensive mindset in a format where aggression has increasingly been rewarded. R Ashwin, in a recent podcast, noted that 'Kuldeep deserves a consistent run because he's unique — you don't have another wrist-spinner like him in the country.' If India fail to contain England's batting in the second Test, this selection decision will undoubtedly be one of the talking points. For a side already one down in the series and without their bowling spearhead, India might have just denied themselves a genuine wicket-taking option — and potentially, the chance to level the series.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG, 2nd Test: 'You have the best fast bowler in the world' - Former India coach fumes over Jasprit Bumrah's omission
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: Jasprit Bumrah of India during a net session at Edgbaston on June 30, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by) Former India coach Ravi Shastri has launched a scathing attack on the current Indian team management for resting Jasprit Bumrah in a crucial Test match, where India is vying to level the five-match series. 'You have the best fast bowler in the world, and you make him sit out after seven days of rest,' Shastri said on Sky Cricket. 'You know, it's something very hard to believe,' he added. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Without taking coach Gautam Gambhir's name, Shastri raised concerns about India's recent losing streak in Test cricket. 'If you look at the run India has had, this becomes a very, very important Test match. You've lost three against New Zealand, you've lost three against Australia, you've lost the first Test match here, and you want to get back to winning ways,' he said. Bumrah, India's best bowler but on a three-Test quota in the five-Test series, was replaced by Akash Deep, who will play his first Test this year. Batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy replaced bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who scored only 1 and 4 in the first-Test loss in Leeds last week. Washington Sundar, the off-spin bowling all-rounder with 25 wickets and a batting average of 42 in nine Tests, has also come in to shore up the batting, which suffered late-order collapses of 41-7 and 31-6 in Leeds. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 가상화폐 투자금 300만원 있다면 '이렇게'해라 나스닥터 더 알아보기 Undo Shubman Gill press conference: Playing XI almost final, time of Jasprit Bumrah call and more Sai Sudharsan, who scored 0 and 30 on his Test debut in Leeds, was dropped, and Karun Nair was promoted to No. 3 in the order. India was made to bat first on a batting-friendly Edgbaston pitch after the toss was won by England, which has an unchanged lineup. India captain Shubman Gill said he also would have bowled first. England's decision means it will chase again in the fourth innings. It hunted down 371 in Leeds to win by five wickets and chased 378 against India on the same ground in 2022. India has never beaten England at Edgbaston in eight previous Tests going back to 1967. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
