Praggnanandhaa Shines in Zagreb: Ties for Third in Grand Chess Tour Finale
In a thrilling conclusion to the Croatian leg of the Grand Chess Tour, Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa showcased resilience, finishing tied for third after a strong final day performance.
Zagreb: Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Shines with Strong Finish at Grand Chess Tour
Zagreb, Croatia – Indian chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa showcased his resilience on the final day of the Grand Chess Tour, finishing tied for third place in a thrilling competition that concluded on Monday. The young Grandmaster ended the tournament with an impressive 21.5 points, sharing the podium with French counterpart Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
The tournament saw France’s Firouzja Alireza clinch the top honors with a total of 23.5 points, despite a challenging final day where he managed only five points after a stellar start. Alireza’s performance included an outstanding eight points from nine in the blitz section on the opening day, but he faltered in the final rounds, allowing Uzbek player Nodirbek Abdusattorov to catch up.
Praggnanandhaa’s journey on the last day began with a setback against Vincent Keymer, but he quickly rebounded, scoring six points in the subsequent eight games. His only other loss came against compatriot D. Gukesh, but he notably defeated Alireza, a highlight in his otherwise challenging day.
The final rounds culminated in a tense tie-breaker, where Alireza and Abdusattorov drew their initial games. In the decisive Armageddon match, Alireza secured his victory by drawing with black pieces, thus earning the championship title.
Keymer finished with 20 points, placing him fifth, while Gukesh, the reigning world champion, ended in sixth with 18.5 points. Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri and Romanian Deac Bogdan Daniel rounded out the top eight, with Giri scoring 17 points and Deac 15.
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 commendable performances.
As the Grand Chess Tour standings currently stand, Fabiano Caruana leads with 20 points, followed closely by Keymer at 19 and Alireza at 18. Praggnanandhaa, with 11.5 points, finds himself in a challenging sixth position, necessitating a stronger comeback in the upcoming events if he hopes to qualify for the finals later this year.
The next legs of the Grand Chess Tour will take place in St. Louis, featuring both rapid and blitz formats, followed by a classical event. As the chess world eagerly anticipates these matches, all eyes will be on Praggnanandhaa to see if he can elevate his game and reclaim his spot among the elite.
Points Table:
- Firouzja Alireza (Fra) – 23.5
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb) – 23.5
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra) – 21.5
- R. Praggnanandhaa (Ind) – 21.5
- Vincent Keymer (Ger) – 20
- D. Gukesh (Ind) – 18.5
- Anish Giri (Ned) – 17
- Deac Bogdan Daniel (Rou) – 15
- Jorden van Foreest (Ned) – 12.5
- Ivan Saric (Cro) – 7