On Sunday in Wijk aan Zee, a significant milestone was achieved as R Praggnanandhaa triumphed over D Gukesh in the playoffs, securing the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2025 title. Both grandmasters experienced disappointment in Round 13, suffering defeats in their respective matches. Arjun Erigaisi displayed remarkable form, defeating Gukesh in just 31 moves, while Vincent Keymer narrowly overcame Praggnanandhaa in a grueling seven-hour contest.

During the blitz playoffs, Gukesh initially claimed victory in the first game but subsequently lost the next two to Praggnanandhaa, who emerged victorious overall. Gukesh's reaction to the outcome was one of devastation, clearly reflected in his expression. The reigning world champion had previously held a solo lead but faltered in the latter stages, ultimately finding himself in a tie-breaker situation that culminated in a disappointing playoff performance.

In the decisive tie-breaker game, Gukesh ran out of time and conceded, his face betraying shock and disbelief. This unexpected turn of events caught both the fans and the 18-year-old grandmaster off guard. Gukesh slumped back in his seat, gazing at the ceiling, leaving Praggnanandhaa in a state of astonishment.

Here is the video of a devastated D Gukesh:

The Challengers section was claimed by GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen. In the third game of the tie-breaker, Praggnanandhaa adopted Ding Liren’s London System strategy as his opening. Although Gukesh initially achieved a pawn advantage in the endgame, he failed to capitalize on the winning move 30…Bd6! Praggnanandhaa managed to reclaim his pawn, leading to a balanced position of knight and three pawns against knight and three pawns. The tension escalated until Gukesh ultimately ran out of time, succumbing to a painful blunder.

Following his victory, Praggnanandhaa expressed, “When I came here, I wanted to win the event. But the field was very strong. I didn’t really think about it much until yesterday. Can’t really express… I’m really happy.”

In reference to Arjun's victory, he remarked, "I was not truly anticipating that Arjun would defeat Gukesh. There was a moment when I believed Gukesh was indeed the stronger player. Upon observing the outcome of the match between Gukesh and Arjun, I realized that I had already made errors in my own game and found myself in a challenging situation where my only option was to sit back and defend. I did not realistically perceive any opportunity for success in my own position."

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