Chess legends Judit Polgar and Susan Polgar and Indian industrialist Gautam Adani were among the celebrities who hailed Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa after he outfoxed world champion and fellow compatriot D Gukesh to clinch Tata Steel chess this season.

Praggnanandhaa is the first Indian Grand Master to have won Tata Steel chess since Vishwanathan Anand’s triumph in the competition in 2006. Gukesh, on the other hand, lost the Tata Steel Chess in a tiebreaker for the second year running.

Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa entered the final round of the tournament as joint leaders with 8.5 points each. To clinch the title, they needed only a win and a defeat for the other leader but both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa suffered defeats in their matches.

While Gukesh lost to another Indian Grand Master, Praggnanandhaa was defeated by German GM Vincent Keymer, meaning both players needed tiebreakers to decide the final winner. 

Gukesh made a strong start in the playoffs, winning the first tiebreaker but Praggnanandhaa bounced back impressively winning the next two blitz games to conquer the title.