India, Feb. 3 -- It came down to two Indian co-leaders in the final round of the Tata Steel Masters - reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. As luck would have it, Gukesh's first loss as world champion ended up arriving on the day he could least afford it. In Round 13 in Wijk Aan Zee, the 18-year-old world champion lost to fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi, and all Praggnanandhaa needed was a draw against Vincent Keymer to become champion. In a day of high drama and twists, Praggnanandhaa ended up losing to Keymer and an all-Indian tiebreak followed.

In the two-game blitz play-off match of 3 minutes with a two-second increment per move, Gukesh started with the White pieces after a draw of lots. Praggnanandhaa ...