Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won the Open A division of the 15th International Chess Open Paracin, which was held in the Serbian town of Paracin, adding to his growing reputation as a star of the future.

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With eight points from nine rounds, the 16-year-old Praggnanandhaa finished half a point ahead of his closest competitor.

Digital Desk: Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won the Open A division of the 15th International Chess Open Paracin, which was held in the Serbian town of Paracin, adding to his growing reputation as a star of the future.

The 16-year-old Praggnanandhaa, who participated in the Open A division of the competition, finished half a point ahead of his closest competitor, Alexandr Predke, a Russian player competing under the International Chess Federation or World Chess Federation, also called FIDE, the sport's international governing body.

Predke defeated India's V Pranav on the second board with white pieces to move up to 7.5 points. At the same time, Praggnanandhaa, the Grandmaster from Chennai, drew with Serbia's Alisher Suleymenov in the ninth and final round on Saturday.

Suleymenov finished third with seven points, tied with India's Al Muthaiah, who defeated Serbia's Arystanbek Urazayev to gain seven points in the classical chess tournament.

Praggnanandhaa, who recently defeated world champion, Magnus Carlsen in the Meltwater Champions Tour rapid chess tournament, remained unbeaten in the nine-round Swiss League tournament, winning seven games and drawing two.

V Pranav finished fifth among the other Indians after a tie on 8.5 points with seven different players, including compatriots Arjun Kalyan and Harshavardhan G B, who finished in the top 10.

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