Indian teen chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa has once again proven his mettle on the global stage by defeating five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen twice within three days at the ongoing Las Vegas Freestyle Chess tournament.
Playing with white pieces, Praggnanandhaa secured his latest victory on Saturday, forcing Carlsen to resign in 43 moves. A critical turning point came when Carlsen, in an aggressive play, sacrificed his queen for a bishop and knight on move 18. While Carlsen briefly regained control, Praggnanandhaa capitalized on a late positional advantage by the 41st move, sealing Carlsen’s defeat.
Earlier in the week, Praggnanandhaa had stunned the World No.1 in just 39 moves, sending shockwaves through the international chess community. These two back-to-back victories marked the Indian’s second and third wins against Carlsen in his young but impactful career.
Carlsen’s Collapse
Carlsen, who began the tournament strong with early victories, saw his momentum derailed by defeats to both Praggnanandhaa and Wesley So, followed by a double playoff loss to Levon Aronian, ending his chances of qualifying for the Winners’ Bracket.
In a candid interview with the tournament’s official YouTube channel, Carlsen reflected on his performance, calling it a “complete collapse”. He cited isolation, lack of interaction with his coach and wife between rounds, and mental fatigue as contributing factors.
“I didn’t enjoy the whole process of just being isolated… not being able to talk to Peter [Heine Nielsen] or Ella [Malone] or use my devices,” Carlsen said.
“It was a complete collapse of my nervous system. I should’ve made it regardless, but I didn’t,” he added.
Rise of the Indian Grandmaster
Praggnanandhaa first defeated Carlsen in 2022 at the Champions Chess Tour and scored his first classical victory in 2024 at Norway Chess. The 2025 Freestyle Chess tournament now marks his third career win over the Norwegian legend, solidifying his status as a top global contender.
The Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess event continues, with Praggnanandhaa now securing third place overall after a dominant show in the classification games.
