BAKU: Young GM R Praggnanandhaa on Friday won both rapid games to eliminate second-seeded Hikaru Nakamura to enter the last 16 of the FIDE World Cup chess tournament in Baku.
After the two classical games ended in draws, the 18-year old Indian, who celebrated his birthday on Thursday, stunned the American GM in the tie-break games on Friday.
Five-time world champion and Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand hailed the young GM and said, "Praggnanandhaa does it! Eliminating one of the pre-tournament favourites Hikaru Nakamura to go through to the next round. A truly impressive performance by Prag!"
Praggu, as he is known among fans, was joined in the last 16 by fellow teenager D Gukesh, who ousted Andrey Esipenko.
Praggnanandhaa will meet Hungarian GM Ferenc Berkes in the round of 16. Agencies
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