Alireza Firouzja Inches Closer to Big Payday in 2024 Sinquefield Cup and Grand Chess Tour

French GM Alireza Firouzja is on the brink of a major payday in the 2024 Sinquefield Cup and the Grand Chess Tour. With three rounds to go, Firouzja leads the event and is in prime position to secure both the $100,000 prize for the Cup and the additional $100,000 first prize for the Tour bonus.

Firouzja’s impressive performance in the tournament began with a first-round victory over GM Fabiano Caruana and continued with a second win against GM Anish Giri. Despite facing a tough challenge in his fourth-round match against GM Gukesh D, Firouzja displayed strong defensive skills to maintain his lead.

In the race for the top spots, Caruana and GM Wesley So are tied for second place with a 3½/6 score. Caruana’s jaw-dropping tactic against GM Ian Nepomniachtchi caught everyone’s attention, while So faced a tough battle against GM Praggnanandhaa R in a highly entertaining game that ended in a draw.

As the tournament enters its final leg, the question of who will earn the GCT bonuses for finishing in the top three of the Tour remains. Firouzja currently leads the Tour standings with Caruana and So close behind. However, with the winner of the Sinquefield Cup earning crucial points, the final outcome is still up in the air.

With the stakes high and the competition fierce, the final three rounds of the Sinquefield Cup promise to be thrilling as Firouzja looks to secure his position at the top and claim the coveted prizes on offer.