R Praggnanandhaa Stuns Magnus Carlsen With 93.9% Accuracy

Chess isn’t just a game of 64 squares; it’s a world of surprises, drama, and relentless ambition. Nothing proved this more than the shockwave R Praggnanandhaa, the Indian chess sensation, who sent waves through the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam. Magnus Carlsen, the five-time world champion, tournament creator, and the most feared player of this era? Knocked out of title contention by a 19-year-old whose rise seems truly unstoppable.

The Big Game: How R Praggnanandhaa Toppled A Giant

In round 4 of the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, Praggnanandhaa faced Carlsen. And while everyone expected fireworks, what actually happened was almost cinematic. Pragg took control of the match from move one, playing with an accuracy that stunned not just Carlsen but everyone watching: 93.9% for Praggnanandhaa, against Carlsen’s 84.9%, a shocker for someone so dominant and experienced.

In just 39 moves, it was over. Carlsen, usually so calm, couldn’t escape R Praggnanandhaa’s tactics. The energy in the hall shifted. Audiences around the world realized they were witnessing chess history, and perhaps the rise of a new king.

Breaking Down The Upset

What made this win even bigger? Carlsen has been the man to beat, already winning Grand Slam events in Paris and Karlsruhe and sitting pretty at the top of the tour standings. But on this day in Vegas, he stumbled hard.

Carlsen started strong, but after a couple of early wins, losses to R Praggnanandhaa and Wesley So knocked him off balance.

Despite a last-round victory to force a playoff, Carlsen lost a tiebreak to Levon Aronian. That pushed him into the lower bracket and made it mathematically impossible for him to claim the main Las Vegas title. Yes, you read that right, Magnus Carlsen was out of title contention in a tournament he helped invent.

R Praggnanandhaa, meanwhile, wasn’t done. He grabbed the joint lead in his group with 4.5 points, alongside Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov, but ahead on tiebreakers, all while showing off nerves of steel.

After the match, he said, “I like Freestyle more than Classical right now.” No stress, just focus on the board and a love for the battle.

What’s Next For R Praggnanandhaa?

With Carlsen out, the tournament is suddenly wide open. Praggnanandhaa’s journey towards the $200,000 prize has just gotten even more exciting, and fans everywhere are watching closely. Could this be the moment the chess world really changes hands? The veteran is out; the newcomer stands tall.

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