Pragg's shock tactics stun Vidit in third round

EMERGED victorious in the battle between two Indian grandmasters in Round 3 of the Candidates chess tournament.

- R PRAGGNANANDHAA

The 18-year-old bounced back from his defeat to compatriot Gukesh by beating Vidit Santosh Gujrathi in 45 moves early on Sunday.

The seeds of Praggnanandhaa's victory were sown as early as the fourth move where he pushed his pawn forward to the f5 square it was an unorthodox move in the Ruy Lopez (also called the Spanish Opening). The engine called the move an inaccuracy. But grandmasters watching it reacted with a mixture of shock and awe.

On the FIDE commentary, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand termed the move a "Delayed Schliemann" while other commentators have called it a "Deferred Schliemann".