Chess World Cup: Praggnanandhaa has already played a lot of tie-breaks…he is very strong: Magnus Carlsen | Chess News

NEW DELHI: World No.1 Magnus Carlsen said on Wednesday that his opponent in the ongoing FIDE Chess World Cup final, Indian teen sensation R Praggnanandhaa, is very strong in tie-breaks as he has already played a lot of them against very strong players.
The second game of the Chess World Cupfinal ended in a draw after 30 moves on Wednesday. After one and a half hours of play, the two players opted for a quiet draw in the second classical game.The winner will be determined by two tie-breaks on Thursday.

“Praggnanandhaa has already played a lot of tie-breaks against very strong players… I know he is very strong. If I have some energy, if I have a good day, obviously I will have good chances,” Carlsen said after Game 2.

Carlsen, who had some sort of food poisoning during the tournament, said that he is feeling better and added that he will have more strength for the tie-break.
“I am very grateful to the organisers, FIDE and the doctors and nurses, who got me some good treatment. Today, I am feeling a bit better but I still didn’t feel like I had the energy for a full fight, so I thought, let’s get one more day of rest. Hopefully, I will have more strength tomorrow,” the Norwegian world No.1 added.

On Wednesday, Carlsen, the five-time world champion, produced a good game with white pieces against Praggnanandhaa. The Indian had no problems with the black pieces, and the players agreed to a draw after 30 moves in an equal Bishop conclusion.
The two tie-break games in rapid format on Thursday will be played with a time control of 25 minutes for each player plus 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

If those two games also fail to throw a winner, two more games with time control of 5 minutes for each player will be played. There will be a 3 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.
Praggnanandhaa is only the second Indian after the legendary Viswanathan Anand to reach the World Cup final.

Posting on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) during the game, former world champion Anand wrote, “Wow, did not expect this opening! Is Magnus repeating his game 12 strategy of 2016 and aiming for a tiebreak?”
“If so, Magnus has spent the day thinking of the tiebreak whilst Prag can only start to do so after the game.”