Praggnanandhaa beats the highest rated player of his career - Veselin Topalov (2738)
He was the strongest chess player on the planet at one point of time and in 2005 he showed his true power when he won the San Luis World Championship ahead of all the top players to become the FIDE World Champion. Veselin Topalov is now nowhere close to what he was as a player some years ago, but with a rating of 2738, he is still quite a potent as a competitor. Pragg faced him in the 6th round of the Gibraltar Masters 2020. Playing with the white pieces, the youngster gave his opponent absolutely no chances and won the game with some powerful moves. This is the highest rated player that Pragg has ever beaten in his classical chess career. We bring you the detailed analysis of the game with PGN, video analysis and Pragg's interview after the win.
"One game at a time" has been the mantra for Praggnanandhaa after his first round loss at the Gibraltar Masters 2020. After winning four games in a row, he faced a real challenge in round 6. Pragg was up against the former FIDE World Champion and World Championship 2006 and 2010 challenger Veselin Topalov. Topalov is no longer as good as he used to be at one point of time. But he is still a very competent player. If his rating of 2738 is not a good enough proof then you must know that in July 2019 (five months ago) Topalov managed to eliminate Hikaru Nakamura at the first round of the Riga FIDE Grand Prix. How did Pragg fare against Topalov? Let's have a look at this epic encounter, step by step.
How Pragg managed to beat Topalov
Praggnanandhaa vs Topalov, Round 6
Pragg managed to find Nf6+ gxf6 and now...
Results of round 6:
Bo. | No. | Name | Rtg | Pts. | Result | Pts. | Name | Rtg | No. | ||
1 | 11 | GM | Cheparinov Ivan | 2686 | 4½ | 0 - 1 | 4½ | GM | Esipenko Andrey | 2654 | 16 |
2 | 13 | GM | Maghsoodloo Parham | 2674 | 4½ | ½ - ½ | 4½ | GM | Paravyan David | 2629 | 22 |
3 | 31 | GM | Praggnanandhaa R | 2602 | 4 | 1 - 0 | 4 | GM | Topalov Veselin | 2738 | 4 |
4 | 47 | GM | Antipov Mikhail Al. | 2562 | 4 | 1 - 0 | 4 | GM | Jones Gawain C B | 2679 | 12 |
5 | 21 | GM | Narayanan.S.L | 2637 | 4 | ½ - ½ | 4 | GM | Yuffa Daniil | 2566 | 46 |
6 | 27 | GM | Kobalia Mikhail | 2609 | 4 | 1 - 0 | 4 | GM | Hjartarson Johann | 2524 | 64 |
7 | 63 | GM | Kotronias Vasilios | 2526 | 4 | 0 - 1 | 4 | GM | Pichot Alan | 2606 | 30 |
8 | 1 | GM | Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2770 | 3½ | ½ - ½ | 3½ | GM | Aryan Chopra | 2562 | 48 |
9 | 2 | GM | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2770 | 3½ | 1 - 0 | 3½ | GM | Peralta Fernando | 2574 | 43 |
10 | 45 | GM | Sanal Vahap | 2569 | 3½ | 1 - 0 | 3½ | GM | Le Quang Liem | 2713 | 6 |
11 | 7 | GM | Alekseenko Kirill | 2704 | 3½ | 1 - 0 | 3½ | GM | Kaidanov Gregory | 2546 | 54 |
12 | 50 | GM | Lalith Babu M R | 2558 | 3½ | 0 - 1 | 3½ | GM | Adams Michael | 2694 | 10 |
13 | 51 | GM | Maze Sebastien | 2550 | 3½ | ½ - ½ | 3½ | GM | Saric Ivan | 2655 | 14 |
14 | 15 | GM | Adhiban B. | 2654 | 3½ | 1 - 0 | 3½ | IM | Flom Gabriel | 2510 | 69 |
15 | 17 | GM | Lagarde Maxime | 2651 | 3½ | 0 - 1 | 3½ | GM | Gagare Shardul | 2481 | 80 |
Standings after round 6
Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | |
1 | 16 | GM | Esipenko Andrey | RUS | 2654 | 5,5 | 2941 |
2 | 47 | GM | Antipov Mikhail Al. | RUS | 2562 | 5,0 | 2913 |
3 | 3 | GM | Wang Hao | CHN | 2758 | 5,0 | 2884 |
4 | 13 | GM | Maghsoodloo Parham | IRI | 2674 | 5,0 | 2798 |
5 | 22 | GM | Paravyan David | RUS | 2629 | 5,0 | 2788 |
6 | 27 | GM | Kobalia Mikhail | RUS | 2609 | 5,0 | 2737 |
7 | 31 | GM | Praggnanandhaa R | IND | 2602 | 5,0 | 2697 |
8 | 30 | GM | Pichot Alan | ARG | 2606 | 5,0 | 2694 |
9 | 52 | GM | Ibarra Jerez Jose Carlos | ESP | 2548 | 4,5 | 2774 |
10 | 11 | GM | Cheparinov Ivan | GEO | 2686 | 4,5 | 2764 |
11 | 56 | GM | Werle Jan | NED | 2545 | 4,5 | 2757 |
12 | 46 | GM | Yuffa Daniil | RUS | 2566 | 4,5 | 2725 |
13 | 2 | GM | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | FRA | 2770 | 4,5 | 2723 |
14 | 80 | GM | Gagare Shardul | IND | 2481 | 4,5 | 2718 |
15 | 7 | GM | Alekseenko Kirill | RUS | 2704 | 4,5 | 2714 |