Qatar Masters: 24-Year-Old Indian Chess Player Karthikeyan Murali Wins Against Top Player Magnus Carlsen, Becomes Third Indian To Do So

In a remarkable display of strategic prowess, 24-year-old Indian chess grandmaster Karthikeyan Murali achieved a notable victory over the world's top-ranked player, Magnus Carlsen, at the ongoing Qatar Masters.

This triumph in the classical chess format marked only the third instance where an Indian player emerged victorious against Carlsen.

Karthikeyan's decisive win occurred in the seventh round of the tournament, where he adeptly navigated the complexities of the game with the black pieces.

This achievement places him in esteemed company alongside leading players such as SL Narayan, Javokhir Sindarov, David Paravyan, Arjun Erigaisi, and Nodirbek Yakubboev, all boasting an impressive score of 5.5 out of 7.

Hailing from Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, and a two-time national champion, Karthikeyan showcased flawless gameplay, rebounding from a draw against Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran in the tournament's sixth round.

As reported by chessbase, Karthikeyan Murali now stands as the third Indian chess player to secure a victory over Magnus Carlsen in a classical game.

He joins the exclusive ranks of Pentala Harikrishna, who accomplished this feat in 2005 when Carlsen was 14 years old, and Viswanathan Anand, the other Indian player to have defeated Carlsen.