Which of the following is/are TRUE regarding Karthikeyan Murali?
1. In a remarkable chess feat in October 2023, the 24-year-old Indian chess grandmaster, Karthikeyan Murali, delivered a stunning blow to the world's number one player, Magnus Carlsen.
2. Karthikeyan's victory in the classical chess format at the ongoing Qatar Masters marked only the third instance where an Indian player emerged triumphant against Carlsen.
3. Karthikeyan's win occurred in the seventh round of the tournament, where he skillfully wielded the black pieces.
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Correct option is B

​The correct answer is (b) 1, 2 & 3

Explanation:

Statement 1:
Correct. In October 2023, Indian Grandmaster Karthikeyan Murali achieved a significant feat by defeating the world number one, Magnus Carlsen, in a classical chess game during the Qatar Masters tournament.

Statement 2:
Correct. This victory marked only the third time that an Indian player had defeated Magnus Carlsen in a classical chess game. The previous Indian players to achieve this feat were Viswanathan Anand and Pentala Harikrishna.

Statement 3:
Correct. Karthikeyan Murali's win occurred in the seventh round of the Qatar Masters 2023, where he skillfully played with the black pieces to deliver a decisive blow to Magnus Carlsen.

Information Booster:

·       Qatar Masters 2023: The Qatar Masters is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the global chess calendar. Held annually in Doha, it gathers top players from around the world, and the 2023 edition featured a strong field of participants, including Carlsen.

Qatar Masters 2024 Summary

• Winner:
  GM Andrey Esipenko won the $25,000 first prize at the Qatar Masters 2024, one of the strongest open tournaments of the year.
• Second Place:
  GM Arjun Erigaisi could only draw his final round game and finished in a tie for second place. He earned $15,000 after winning the tiebreak.
• Third Place:
  GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, ranked third in the 2024 FIDE Circuit, started with a loss but recovered with a draw and scored 7/9, tying with Arjun. He earned $10,000.