Indian sensation R Praggnanandhaa faced American Grandmaster Wesley So in Round 6 of the Tata Steel Chess 2026, and what unfolded sparked a massive debate across the chess world. With Pragg down to his last second on the clock, pushing a pawn to promotion but unable to claim the queen, he paused the clock for arbiter help. The call? A draw. But was it fair? Let’s see.
What went Down With R Praggnanandhaa And Wesley So
The Tata Steel Chess 2026 round 6 was tense from the start. Pragg, known for his lightning-fast calculations, found himself in a do-or-die moment. His pawn reached the promotion square, but time ticked away mercilessly, one second left. He couldn’t grab the queen piece in time, so he stopped the clock and sought assistance. Commentators buzzed: this looked like a win for Wesley So on time forfeit. Yet, after quick huddles, the arbiters ruled it a draw, citing the situation’s urgency.
Enter Wesley So himself, stepping in to clear the air. On X, he posted: “I was the one who proposed to draw the game, not the arbiters. Things happened so fast, and everyone did what seems best at the moment. Criticising the arbiters is uncalled for.” So revealed that he suggested the draw amid the chaos, defending the officials who faced backlash.
Not everyone agreed, though. Renowned arbiter Chris Bird fired back on X, quoting FIDE rules: “Should have been ruled a loss. No promotion actually took place.” He argued the pause wasn’t valid under 6.11.2, as the piece wasn’t available.
This wasn’t just a blip; the ruling ignited hot takes everywhere. Fans and experts split: some praised the humane call in rapid chess’s frenzy, others cried foul on rule-bending. Pragg, ever the pro, moved on without comment, but the spotlight highlighted rapid format pressures where seconds decide fates.
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Meanwhile, the Tata Steel Chess 2026 delivered more magic. Young Indian GM Nihal Sarin dominated the Open section, clinching the title with 6.5 points after a steady draw against legend Viswanathan Anand. In a heartfelt touch, Nihal dedicated his win to his late maternal grandfather, who taught him chess. Anand took second, Arjun Erigaisi third. In women’s, Russia’s Kateryna Lagno triumphed with 6.5 points, ahead of Aleksandra Goryachkina and India’s Divya Deshmukh.
Pragg’s near-miss shows chess’s razor-edge drama, where rules clash with real-time reality. Wesley So‘s clarification cools some flames, but debates linger. As Tata Steel wraps, one thing’s clear: Indian chess stars like Pragg keep raising the bar. Stay tuned, the board never sleeps.
Also read: Tata Steel Chess 2026: Nihal Sarin Wins, Vishy Anand 2nd
