Gukesh, Pragg set for Tata Steel tie-break showdown

It came down to two Indian co-leaders in the final round of the Tata Steel Masters — reigning world champion D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa.

- Susan Ninan

BENGALURU:

As luck would have it, Gukesh's first loss as world champion arrived on the day he could least afford it. In Rd 13 in Wijk Aan Zee, the 18-year-old lost to fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi, and all Praggnanandhaa needed was a draw against Vincent Keymer to become champion. Praggnanandhaa's position early on seemed comfortable and the job looked fairly straightforward. Turns out, it was anything but that.

Momentum switched sides, Praggnanandhaa's defence cracked, Keymer — who was Gukesh's second for the World Championship — was soon breathing down Praggnanandhaa's neck and the prospect of an all-Indian tiebreak loomed.