Pranesh M and Yu Yangyi Secure Spots in 2026 Chess.com Open Playoffs Through Play-In 2
Pranesh M and Yu Yangyi Secure Spots in 2026 Chess.com Open Playoffs
In a thrilling conclusion to the second Play-In event of the 2026 Chess.com Open, Grandmasters Pranesh M and Yu Yangyi emerged victorious, securing their places in the highly anticipated playoffs. The event, held on Wednesday, saw Pranesh advance directly thanks to superior tiebreaks, finishing with an impressive score of 7.5/9. He outperformed fellow GM Wesley So, who also finished with the same score but fell short in the tiebreaks.
Yu, who finished third in the Swiss standings, faced off against So in a decisive match for the second playoff spot. After a tense battle, Yu triumphed, defeating So to claim his place alongside Pranesh in the playoffs.
The two GMs now have the opportunity to select their opponents for the opening round of the playoffs. Pranesh will face off against GM Vincent Keymer, while Yu will take on GM Denis Lazavik. The excitement continues as the third GM Play-In is set for Monday, March 23, at 12:00 p.m. ET, where four more players will vie for a chance to join the playoff bracket.
While 7.5 points secured outright victory in the previous Play-In, it only sufficed for a shared first place this time. GMs Aravindh Chithambaram and Oleksandr Bortnyk, who finished just half a point behind, were left disappointed as they missed out on playoff spots due to tiebreaks.
The competition has been fierce, with 98 players participating in the event. GM Parham Maghsoodloo started strong, maintaining a perfect score through four rounds before facing a setback against GM Levon Aronian. Despite a brief resurgence, Maghsoodloo ultimately finished with two back-to-back losses against Pranesh and So.
The late-night battles proved fruitful for the two Asian GMs, who began their matches at 10:30 p.m. in India and 1 a.m. in China. Yu’s qualification came around 4:30 a.m. in Beijing, a feat that impressed commentator GM Eric Hansen.
In a post-match interview, Pranesh reflected on his critical win against Maghsoodloo, stating, “I just blundered the pawn and was playing for a draw, but I think he just over-pushed.” He credited the no-increment time control as advantageous for his style, saying, “I’m good with the mouse and I play blitz and bullet all the time.”
So’s path to 7.5 points mirrored Pranesh’s, with three wins, a draw against Pranesh, and two draws in the final rounds. Yu, despite suffering one loss, remained undefeated in the other rounds and showcased his tactical prowess in a piece sacrifice against GM Leon Luke Mendonca.
In a dramatic showdown, Yu and So battled for the final playoff spot in a two-game match. After drawing both games, they headed to an armageddon tiebreaker, where Yu emerged victorious with a critical move that turned the tide in his favor.
As the playoffs approach, the excitement builds with just four spots remaining. The Chess.com Open, running from March 14 to April 26, promises to be the world’s largest online chess event, featuring a total prize pool of $250,000 and three direct qualification spots for the 2026 Esports World Cup.
Who will fill the remaining playoff spots? Fans are eager to see how the competition unfolds in the coming days.