Praggnanandhaa Beats MVL in Tiebreaks to Win Chess Classic Romania
The Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2025 has come to a thrilling conclusion, with India’s R Praggnanandhaa emerging victorious in a three-way tiebreak over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL) and Alireza Firouzja. The tournament, which is the second leg of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT), saw Praggnanandhaa outmaneuver his opponents to claim the title.
The tournament began with a round-robin format, where the top two players would qualify for the final tiebreak. Praggnanandhaa, Vachier-Lagrave, and Firouzja finished the round-robin stage with an equal number of points, forcing a tiebreak to determine the winner. The first two clashes, Praggnanandhaa vs Firouzja and Vachier-Lagrave vs Firouzja, ended in draws, setting the stage for a thrilling finale.
The final tiebreak saw Praggnanandhaa take on Vachier-Lagrave in a best-of-four blitz match. The Indian prodigy started strongly, winning the first game with white pieces. Vachier-Lagrave fought back in the second game, but Praggnanandhaa clinched the title with a convincing win in the third game.
Praggnanandhaa’s victory has sent shockwaves through the chess world, with many hailing him as a rising star. His win has also sparked debate about the tiebreak format used in the GCT. Many have criticized the format, which some feel favors players who are more comfortable with blitz chess.
In an interview with the Indian Express, Praggnanandhaa praised the tiebreak format, saying “I think the tiebreak format is great. It’s a great way to decide the winner, and it’s very exciting for the audience.” He also credited his opponents for pushing him to his limits, saying “MVL and Firouzja are both very strong players, and it was a pleasure to play against them.”
Vachier-Lagrave, who finished as the runner-up, also praised Praggnanandhaa’s performance, saying “Praggnanandhaa is an incredible talent. He’s been playing some amazing chess, and it’s not surprising that he won the tournament.”
Firouzja, who finished third, expressed his disappointment at not being able to win the tournament, but praised the tiebreak format, saying “I think the tiebreak format is a great way to decide the winner. It’s very exciting for the audience, and it’s a great way to test our skills under pressure.”
The win has also given Praggnanandhaa a significant boost in the GCT standings, moving him up to second place behind leader Magnus Carlsen. The tournament will continue with the next leg, the Julius Baer Generation Next tournament, which will take place in September.
In conclusion, Praggnanandhaa’s win in the Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2025 is a testament to his incredible talent and skill. His victory has sent shockwaves through the chess world, and has sparked debate about the tiebreak format used in the GCT. As the tournament continues, fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating Praggnanandhaa’s next move.
