Praggnanandhaa wins Norway Chess A Open

Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa emerged winner in the Norway Chess Group A Open chess tournament in Stavanger after logging 7.5 points from nine rounds.

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[{"selector":"#anim-62fb7203-837e-474b-aa26-9bf5bf4fead3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1350,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] He finished the tournament with a victory over fellow-Indian V Praneeth, an International Master, late on Friday.

[{"selector":"#anim-f151af27-62f0-439b-981d-70457e4f3baa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1350,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Praggnanandhaa (Elo 2642) finished a full point ahead of second-placed IM Marsel Efroimski (Israel) and IM Jung Min Seo (Sweden).

[{"selector":"#anim-7df37457-9a22-433d-b0e8-80d30cece1ac [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1350,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Praneeth, with six points, was joint-third, but placed sixth due to an inferior tie-break score.

[{"selector":"#anim-734eecfd-ce03-42fe-b26b-d197bf89aaa5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1350,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] He will be part of the India B team in the open event of the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai next month.

[{"selector":"#anim-1e12f41e-7d95-40a6-9d71-5c3799430ed7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1350,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Praggnanandhaa's coach R B Ramesh congratulated him after the triumph and said it will help boost his confidence.

[{"selector":"#anim-399d26ae-180c-41b5-b40d-f1ba4fbf8233 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1350,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] "Congratulations to him for the victory. He was the top seed, so it is not a surprise that he won the tournament. He played well in general, drew three games with black pieces and won the remaining games. It will help boost his confidence," Ramesh said.