🎖️ Youth Meets Mastery: India's Rising Star ✨ Outclasses Hikaru Nakamura, Securing a Spot in the Elite 16!
🎩 The Magical World of Chess: Nakamura vs. 
Praggnanandhaa 🎩
🎂 Birthday Brilliance:
Turning 18 is monumental in anyone's life. But for Praggnanandhaa, it was a day for the history books. Not only did he level with Nakamura on his birthday, but he also confidently stated to Michael Rahal, "I'm quite good in rapid". As if Harry Potter nonchalantly remarked, "I know a spell or two". 🧙♂️
Let's Jump into the Game:
c4 Nf6
The English Opening: as English as the Queen's tea and crumpets! 🍵
Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5
Nakamura tries a tricky knight dance, probably attempting the tango. But Pragg isn’t interested in dancing.
Nh4 O-O 7. Bg2 d6 8. O-O
Classic castling! Like when a magician makes himself disappear behind the curtains.
8... g5!?
Whoa! Pragg doesn't just knock on the door. He's kicking it down! 🚪🦵
a3 (9. d4 was a safer bet)
”Safety first” - said no young chess prodigy ever.
9... Ba5!
Subtlety at its best! Pragg slides the bishop, whispering, "You should’ve seen this coming, Naka!" 😜
d3?
Knocking over his own sandcastle. Oops! Nakamura may be having one of those “Did I leave the oven on?” moments.
cxd5 Nb8
Retreating the knight? As Shakespeare quipped, "Sometimes you gotta go back to move forward." 🎭
dxe4 gxh4 13. Bh6 Re8
The stage is set! Fireworks, suspense, and a thrill a minute.
gxh4 Qxh4
The queen enters the spotlight. "It's my show now!" 🎤
Qc1 f6 16. Kh1 Nd7 17. Bf4 Ne5 18. Bg3 Qh5
Pragg's queen behaves like a bee, buzzing and threatening. Nakamura is swatting away, but how long before he's stung? 🐝
Rg1 Ng6 20. f4 Bb6 21. e3 Kf7
Safe as houses! The black king finds solace, while pandemonium is the order of the day elsewhere.
e5 dxe5 23. fxe5 Nxe5 24. Qc3 Bh3
The board heats up, and one could practically cook an egg on it! 🍳
Raf1 Bxg2+ 26. Rxg2 Ng4
Knights hopping, bishops slashing; this isn’t just a game, it’s a medieval carnival! 🏰
d6 cxd6 28. Qb3+ d5 29. Qa4 Re4 30. Qd1 Bxe3
Nakamura's rook duo look on helplessly. “Are we just spectators?” they seem to ask.
a4 Rae8 32. Qb3 b6 33. Qb5?
In a bid for relevance, Nakamura’s queen hops to the wrong square. Too many pies on Pi day?
33... Bd4
With this masterstroke, Pragg implies, "Checkmate looms!"
0-1
The seasoned wizard bows, acknowledging the young sorcerer’s might.
🎈 Final Thoughts: 🎈
In chess, as in life, the young sometimes teach the old a trick or two. This game was no different. Pragg's brilliance not only lit up the board but also reminded us of the boundless possibilities that lie ahead. On a day filled with knights and kings, it was indeed the young pawn’s moment to shine. Happy Birthday, Pragg, and here's to many more enchanting moves! 🎉🎊
Remember: Every pawn has the heart of a king, and every game is an epic tale. 💖👑
References:
worldcup2023.fide.com worldcup 2023 pgns
World cup live Live Games
