Sinquefield Cup 2024: Firouzja Extends Lead, Gukesh Draws with Caruana

Grandmaster D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, two young Indian chess prodigies, showcased their skills at the Sinquefield Cup, part of the Grand Chess Tour, in Mumbai. Gukesh played a hard-fought draw against top seed Fabiano Caruana, while Praggnanandhaa drew his seventh game in a row.

Frenchman Alireza Firouzja extended his lead by a full point after defeating world champion Ding Liren of China. With just two rounds to go, Firouzja has five points, with Caruana trailing behind. Five players, including Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, share the third spot with 3.5 points each.

In other matches, Nodirbek Abdusattorov defeated Wesley So, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave drew with Anish Giri. Gukesh put up a strong fight against Caruana in an Italian opening game, while Praggnanandhaa had to settle for a draw with Ian Nepomniachtchi.

The highlight of the day was Firouzja’s victory over Liren, where he displayed fine resources in a complicated middle game. The Frenchman capitalized on Liren’s errors and secured a crucial win.

With the tournament heating up, chess enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the final rounds to see who will emerge victorious in the Sinquefield Cup.