Chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa created a historic moment at the TATA Steel Chess Tournament. On Tuesday, January 16, he secured a remarkable victory against world champion Ding Liren, surpassing the seasoned Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and claiming the top spot among Indian Grandmasters for the first time in his career.

Praggnanandhaa expressed surprise at defeating the Chinese world champion, as he did not expect Ding Liren to concede so quickly.

"I'm pleased with the outcome. The first three games were quite interesting. I believe I'm playing well, but it's reminiscent of last year. There was a phase when my performance was strong, but then it dropped significantly. So, maintaining high energy levels throughout the entire tournament is crucial," remarked Praggnanandhaa on his achievement.