Praggu moves fox Nakamura as young brigade marches on

R PRAGGNANANDHAA eliminated Hikaru Nakamura after securing wins with both white as well as black pieces on a madcap Friday at the FIDE World Cup. Nakamura, second seed and one of the favourites to advance to the medal rounds, had drawn both his games with the Indian to send the match into a tie-break on the third and final day of the fourth round matches in Baku.

- GOMESH S

A stunning victory and then miles away there was ice cream. Former multiple world champion and World No 1 Magnus Carlsen, who was deep in battle against Germany’s Vincent Keymer, came over to shake Praggnanandhaa’s hand and talk to him. Apart from congratulating the achievement, there is a story behind the ice cream that involves Carlsen and RB Ramesh. Earlier in the day, Ramesh, who is currently in Sweden doing a training camp for Carlsen’s club, had told everyone that he would treat them with ice cream if Praggnanandhaa beats Nakamura. “Someone had already conveyed it to Magnus and Magnus was telling Praggu that your coach is buying everyone ice cream,” laughs Ramesh.