Praggnanandhaa Falls to Liren in Norway Chess Armageddon Tie-Breaker

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa's impressive run at the Norway Chess tournament came to an end in the second round, as he succumbed to World Champion Ding Liren in the Armageddon tie-breaker. The highly anticipated clash between the two ended in a draw under normal time control, setting the stage for a thrilling tie-breaker.

In the Armageddon game, Liren emerged victorious, showcasing his exceptional skills under pressure. The Chinese GM's triumph marked a significant moment in the tournament, as he overcame Praggnanandhaa's 2-0 head-to-head advantage.

Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen continued his dominance, securing a crucial victory in the Armageddon game against Hikaru Nakamura. Carlsen's exceptional skill under pressure was evident as he added to his impressive Armageddon record and took the lead in the tournament standings with 3 points.

Alireza Firouzja also impressed, drawing his classical game against Fabiano Caruana before showcasing his abilities in speed chess to bag 1.5 points in the Armageddon game.

In the women's section, R Vaishali made history by defeating fellow Indian Koneru Humpy in a classical game. Vaishali's victory marked her first classical win in the tournament and propelled her to the position of India's number two female player on the live rating list.

The other two classical matches between Lei Tingjie and Pia Cramling, as well as Ju Wenjun and Anna Muzychuk, ended in hard-fought draws. However, the Chinese duo of Wenjun and Tingjie emerged victorious in their respective Armageddon games.

The Norway Chess tournament continues to provide thrilling action, with the world's top players showcasing their exceptional skills. Praggnanandhaa's loss to Liren may have been a setback, but it serves as a reminder of the intense competition at the highest level of chess.

Tags: #NorwayChess, #Praggnanandhaa, #DingLiren, #MagnusCarlsen, #AlirezaFirouzja