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Pranesh beats Carlsen to claim 'Titled Tuesday' title
The 19-year-old became the fifth Indian to win the weekly arena tournament.
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Anushka Pathak - Thu, 27, Nov 2025
- 12:35 EST
- 13
Pranesh M, the 19-year-old Indian Chess Grandmaster / Courtesy: FIDE
Indian Grandmaster Pranesh M delivered a decisive performance to win the Chess.com ‘Titled Tuesday’ event on Nov. 25, edging out world champion Magnus Carlsen on tiebreaks after both finished with 9.5 points from 11 rounds.
Pranesh, seeded 28th, claimed the title with a tiebreak score of 77.5, ahead of Carlsen’s 73.5. The 19-year-old became the fifth Indian to win the weekly arena tournament and did so by defeating Carlsen twice during the event.
Their first encounter in Round 5 ended after an 86-move queen endgame, with Carlsen resigning as white. Reflecting on the loss, Carlsen said, “There was absolutely no reason I should have lost.” He later added, “I've had some ups and downs, but at the end of the day I don't think anybody was close, so I'll take that.”
Also Read: Indian-origin chess prodigy wins UK blitz title
Pranesh’s run also included a draw with American GM Hans Niemann and a win over Russian GM Alexander Grischuk. Entering the final stages, he held the lead as other contenders battled to keep pace.
Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi, tied for third heading into Round 11 with 8.5 points alongside Belarusian GM Denis Lazavik and Russian GM Vladislav Artemiev, lost to Carlsen in a 117-move queen checkmate. Erigaisi eventually placed ninth with 8.5 points.
Pranesh earned the $1,000 top prize, while Carlsen received $750. Lazavik took home $350 for third, Sarana $250, Artemiev $150, and Pranav V $100. The women’s prize went to Karina Ambartsumova.
By winning the event, Pranesh joins an elite group of Indian 'Titled Tuesday' champions, including Nihal Sarin, Arjun Erigaisi, Pranav Venkatesh, and Raunak Sadhwani.
The tournament, featuring 10-minute rapid games and often exceeding 1,000 titled participants, has become a testing ground for emerging stars.
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