World Youth Chess Championship: Praggnanandhaa claims U-18 gold

The teenager will have to thank compatriot International Master Arjun Kalyan for engineering a crucial draw against top seed Shant Sargsyan of Armenia.

Praggnanandhaa would have also been under pressure if GM Shant had won.

But the Armenian couldn't get past a determined Arjun, allowing Praggnanandhaa to call truce and clinch the title.

This is a crucial title for the 14-year-old Praggnanandhaa.

Earlier, Praggnanandhaa became the world's second-youngest Grandmaster as he achieved this feat at 12 years, 10 months and 13 days.

Praggnanandhaa claimed the title after reaching the final round at the Gredine Open in Italy.

He went on to beat Moroni Luca Jr in the eighth round and became the youngest Indian to achieve the GM title.

Meanwhile, the World Youth Chess Championship ended on a high note for India, with six other medals, including three silver, coming their way.

India couldn't get success in the Under-16 Girls category.

However, BM Akshaya gave a good account of herself. Akshaya lost the medal to Anousha Mahdian, after suffering an unexpected defeat to her in the final round.

The Under-14 Girls of India did well on the day, with Divya Deshmukh and Rakshitta Ravi bringing home two medals.

Rakshitta overcame overnight leader Bat-Erdene Mungunzul to seal the bronze.

Kazakhstan's Meruert Kamalidenova earned the gold in this category.

Notably, FIDE Master LR Srihari (Under-14 Open) and Vantika Agrawal (Under-16 Girls) collected the country's other two silver medals.