R Praggnanandhaa Stunned by Former Coach's Comeback in World Rapid and Blitz Championships

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In a shocking turn of events, R Praggnanandhaa, India's No. 2 chess player, suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of his former coach, GM Sandipan Chanda, at the ongoing World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha. Chanda, a 42-year-old chess legend from Kolkata, had a remarkable comeback in the open rapid section, defeating Levon Aronian and Praggnanandhaa in consecutive rounds. Chanda, who had coached Praggnanandhaa and his sister Vaishali Rameshbabu in the past, was in a winning position against the 20-year-old Indian GM. However, as time was running out, Praggnanandhaa made a critical error, leading to his defeat. The video of Praggnanandhaa's reaction, which has gone viral on social media, shows his shell-shocked expression as he realized his loss. Chanda, on the other hand, remained at his table, offering support to his former student. Chanda's impressive performance has been nothing short of remarkable, considering he began his campaign with wins against big names. His victory over Praggnanandhaa is a testament to his skills and experience, which have earned him a reputation as one of the world's top chess players. Currently, Chanda is ranked 19th in the open rapid section standings, with Artemiev Vladislav leading the way, followed closely by Magnus Carlsen in second position. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is third, David Anton Guijarro is fourth, and D Gukesh is in fifth position. The World Rapid and Blitz Championships continue to be a closely contested event, with several top players still in the running for the title.