Praggnanandhaa Shines in Zagreb: Ties for Third in Grand Chess Tour Finale

Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa bounces back on the final day, securing a tie for third place in the Croatian leg of the Grand Chess Tour, while France’s Firouzja Alireza claims the top spot.

Zagreb: Praggnanandhaa Shines with Strong Finish at Grand Chess Tour

In a thrilling conclusion to the Croatian leg of the Grand Chess Tour, Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa showcased his resilience, finishing tied for third place on Monday. After a challenging start to the final day, Praggnanandhaa rallied to secure a commendable position alongside French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, both amassing 21.5 points.

The tournament saw France’s Firouzja Alireza clinch the top honors with an impressive 23.5 points, despite a rocky finish that saw him score only five points on the last day. Alireza’s initial dominance, highlighted by a stellar eight-point performance on the opening day, was nearly overshadowed by Uzbek star Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who matched his score, leading to a tense tie-break finale. Alireza ultimately triumphed in the Armageddon round, needing only a draw to secure his victory.

Praggnanandhaa’s journey on the final day began with a setback against Vincent Keymer, but he quickly regained his footing, winning six out of his last eight games. Notably, he managed to defeat Alireza, marking a significant achievement in his young career. His only other loss came against compatriot D. Gukesh, who finished sixth overall.

The final standings revealed a competitive field, with Keymer finishing fifth with 20 points, while Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri and Romanian Deac Bogdan Daniel rounded out the top eight. Local favorite Ivan Saric struggled, ending in last place with just seven points.

In terms of prize money, Alireza took home $47,000, while Abdusattorov earned $42,000. Praggnanandhaa and Vachier-Lagrave each received $25,000 for their shared third-place finish.

Looking ahead, Praggnanandhaa currently sits in sixth place in the Grand Chess Tour standings with 11.5 points, a position that will require improvement if he hopes to qualify for the tour’s finale later this year. The next events will take place in St. Louis, featuring both rapid and blitz formats, followed by a classical event.

As the chess world watches closely, Praggnanandhaa’s journey continues, promising exciting developments in the upcoming tournaments.