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Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh Challenge For Grand Chess Tour Rapid And Blitz Tournament
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India's R Praggnanandhaa is among the favorites in the Grand Chess Tour rapid and blitz tournament, among Magnus Carlsen, D Gukesh, Fabiano Caruana, and Alireza Firouzja.
The difference in ratings does not count for much, but based on form and past records, India's top player R Praggnanandhaa will be among the favourites in the third edition of the Grand Chess Tour rapid and blitz tournament, starting Wednesday.
After a tough start, Pragg won his last two games in the UZ Masters tournament and then triumphed in the tiebreak games, showcasing his well-known consistency.
The Croatian leg will also feature the world's best player, Magnus Carlsen, in action alongside D Gukesh, the reigning world champion, who is still striving to excel in the faster versions of classical chess.
Who Are Participating In Grand Chess Tour rapid And Blitz Tournament?
In addition to Carlsen and Gukesh, Pragg will face competition from other top players like Fabiano Caruana from the United States, Alireza Firouzja, the Iranian immigrant to France, and Nodirbek Abdusattarov from Uzbekistan.
Garry Kasparov, inspired by Bobby Fischer, was the brain behind the Grand Chess Tour, pioneering the concept of professional chess. The young generation is now benefiting from this initiative.
Praggnanandhaa has broken many barriers, winning three classical super events this year. He was particularly outstanding in his last outing in Uzbekistan, winning two consecutive games in Classical chess, tying for first place, and then dominating the tiebreaker.
Though Gukesh may not be renowned for his passion for rapid or blitz chess, this impacts his credibility as the world champion. The youngest ever world champion needs to adapt to excel in all formats.
Magnus Carlsen has officially announced that he will not participate in FIDE events anymore, a significant blow to the apex chess body. Carlsen's return to the format where he excels could excite his global fans. While Carlsen is the clear favourite, Pragg is one of the few who could potentially challenge him.
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