Praggnanandhaa becomes first Indian to win Grand Chess Tour

Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu became the first Indian to clinch the Grand Chess Tour title on Thursday.

The Indian registered a stellar come-from-behind victory over the United States' Fabiano Caruana in the final after losing the first classical game.

Praggnanandhaa drew the second classical game and was trailing Caruana by six points before the start of the rapid and blitz segment.

The 21-year-old won both the rapid games to win eight points and take a lead for the first time in the contest. 

The blitz segment was shared between the two players, with both winning a game apiece and the other two ending in a draw.

The first game of the blitz section was a drawn affair before Caruana won the second to level the scores at 12-12.

A determined Praggnanandhaa prevailed over his opponent in the third game to restore his two-point lead (14-12).

Had Caruana won the last blitz game, he would have forced two more games with the peculiar time control, followed by armageddon.

Praggnanandhaa eventually prevailed 15-13 to win his maiden GCT title and pocket USD 200,000 as the winning purse.

The title win also guaranteed Praggnanandhaa a spot in the next year's Grand Chess Tour along with Caruana, and another American Wesley So, who defeated Vincent Keymer of Germany 18-12 to take the third place.

"Honestly, I didn't think I had many chances today," Praggnanandhaa told Chess.com after his win.

"It's not every day that you can get one win from Fabi, but to get two, it was important in the rapid."

The two-point lead at the end of the rapid games proved decisive for the Indian Grandmaster.

Earlier this year, Praggnanandhaa had become the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title, a campaign that featured two wins over world number one and tournament favourite Magnus Carlsen.

He had then bagged the title at St Louis Rapid and Blitz and finished as runner-up on tie breaks at the prestigious Sinquefield Cup.