With his risky opening choices and playing for a win in every position and with any color, Praggnanandhaa helped produce three spectacular games and should be the spectators' favorite player.
1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5  3... a7a6  4. b5a4  4... f7f5 [%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Another risky opening choice for Praggnanandhaa, just like yesterday. This variation is called the \"Delayed Schliemann,\" and you would expect to find it in online blitz games, where it does occur sometimes, but not in a Candidates Tournament. Playing something so risky with Black demands very good preparation and total confidence in the calculation. Despite the round-two defeat, or perhaps because of it, Praggnanandhaa doesn't seem shaken and plays for a win with Black. 5. d2d4 [%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the best way for White to fight for an advantage. 5... e5d4  6. e4e5  6... b7b5  7. a4b3  7... c6a5 A very rare move. In my database, I found just nine games in this position. 8. f3d4 Caught by surprise, Vidit starts thinking. White has many promising moves, so it's difficult to make a choice. 8... c8b7  9. d4f5 [%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] A natural and tempting move, simply capturing a pawn, but not the best. 9... a5b3  10. a2b3  10... d7d6 [%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A very difficult move to find over the board. According to the computer, Black no longer has any major problems here. I believe this is still preparation. 11. d1e2 The first new move of the game. 11... d8d7 [%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The same idea. 12. e5e6  12... d7c6  13. c1g5  13... g7g6 [%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 14. f5e3  14... h7h6  15. g5f4  15... g8e7 [%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Praggnanandhaa is not in a hurry to capture the e6-pawn. 16. c2c4  16... b5b4 [%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Taking the c3-square from the knight. 17. e2g4 Maybe this move isn't the best, but Vidit defends the e6-pawn and perhaps had an eye on tactical issues if Black's king goes to the queenside. 17... c6c5  18. e1g1  18... f8g7  19. b1d2 A critical moment of the game. 19... e8c8 [%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Black is threatening g5, but this move has a tactical problem. 20. h2h4 [%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Defends against the mentioned threat, but there is a better move. 20... d8e8  21. a1d1  21... g7b2 [%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Not afraid of accepting the pawn. 22. e3d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 22... e7d5  23. c4d5  23... b7d5 On the board we have a type of position that the famous coach Mark Dvoretsky liked to call \"irrational.\" In this type of position, it's impossible to calculate everything, and the players also have to be guided by intuition. It's not surprising that mistakes are made, especially when playing without a time increment. 24. e6e7 [%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 24... c8b8  25. f4e3  25... c5b5  26. d2c4  26... b2c3  27. e3d4 Another important moment in the game. 27... h8g8 [%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 28. d4c3  28... b4c3  29. g4d4 [%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] It's very difficult to find the best way to fight: backward knight moves are notoriously difficult. 29... d5b7 [%c_effect b7;square;b7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Not the best square for the bishop as it will be subjected to a knight attack from a5. 30. d4c3  30... e8e7  31. c4a5 [%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The only move to give White some hope. The strong bishop must be captured. 31... e7e5  32. b3b4 [%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Now Black is in control again. 32... g6g5  33. h4h5  33... g5g4  34. f1e1  34... g4g3 [%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Even better than capturing the pawn on h5. 35. a5b7  35... g3f2  36. g1f2  36... b5b7  37. c3f3  37... e5g5  38. f3b7  38... b8b7  39. g2g4  39... g5g4  40. e1e6  40... g4h4  41. e6h6  41... g8g5 The smoke has cleared, and the time scramble is finished. Black is left with a material advantage and a completely winning endgame. 42. h6h7  42... h4h5  43. h7d7  43... b7c8  44. d7e7  44... g5e5  45. e7g7 