Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanadhaa Finishes Last in Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz Tournament

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanadhaa may have finished in last place at the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz tournament, but his improved performance in the blitz section showed promise for the young chess prodigy.

Despite starting off with only four points in the Rapid category, Praggnanadhaa managed to double his score in the blitz section, ending with a total of eight points. However, it was not enough to secure a higher placement in the tournament.

The real star of the event was Alireza Firouzja of France, who dominated the competition and emerged as the winner with a total of 23 points. Firouzja’s impressive performance earned him USD 40000 from the total prize pool of USD 175000.

With this victory, Firouzja also claimed the top spot in the Grand Chess Tour ranking, surpassing Fabiano Caruana of the United States. Praggnanadhaa, who started the event in third place in the tour ranking, slipped to fifth and will need a miraculous performance in the upcoming Sinquefield Cup to secure a podium finish.

Despite the tough competition, Praggnanadhaa will be joined by World Championship challenger D Gukesh in the upcoming event. The final standings of the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz tournament saw Firouzja in first place, followed by Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura of the USA in second and third place respectively.

Overall, the tournament showcased some intense battles and impressive performances, setting the stage for an exciting finale in the upcoming Sinquefield Cup.