Gukesh Reacts in Agony and Despair After First Defeat as World Champion Against R Praggnanandhaa.
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Gukesh D was left in disbelief after his first loss as World Champion against R Praggnanandhaa on Monday. It all happened in a dramatic sudden death when Gukesh over-pressed in an equal endgame and lost a piece to hand the title to his compatriot.
In what was truly a battle of nerves, Praggnanandhaa defeated the World Champion. However, this left 18-year-old Gukesh in shock, as he could not believe what had happened.
As the game ended, Pragg swiftly got up and left. Gukesh was left alone on the board, pondering how he had botched it. He was definitely not happy with himself, trying to recall what had transpired at the last minute.
Meanwhile, when the game went into sudden death, it was Praggnanandhaa who had drawn white, but Gukesh was better with some imaginative play on the queenside that netted him a pawn.
The two-minute-and-thirty-second time limit did not deter Praggnanandhaa from trying to defend an inferior endgame.
Just while the position looked completely drawn, and another game was on the cards, Gukesh lost complete control in the battle of nerves, first lost a pawn, and then lost his last remaining knight.
Praggnanandhaa showed perfect technique to take the full point and his maiden victory at the Masters.
For Gukesh, this was the second year running that he tied for first place and lost the tiebreaker. In the previous edition, he lost to Chinese Wei Yi last year.
Results of Round 13:
Vincent Keymer defeats R Praggnanandhaa
D Gukesh lost to Arjun Erigaisi
Nodirbek Abdusattorov drew Pentala Harikrishna
Alexey Sarana drew Leon Mendonca
Anish Giri drew Jordan van Foreest
Fabiano Caruana lost to Max Wamerdam
Vladimir Fedoseev drew Wei Yi
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