Firouzja extends lead in Sinquefield Cup, Gukesh holds Caruana to a draw

Grandmaster D Gukesh played out a hard-fought draw against top seed Fabiano Caruana in the seventh round of the Sinquefield Cup, part of the Grand Chess Tour. Meanwhile, Frenchman Alireza Firouzja extended his lead by a full point after defeating world champion Ding Liren of China.

The other Indian player, R Praggnanandhaa, continued his streak of draws, remaining at a fifty per cent score. Despite his consistent performances, he was unable to secure a win in the seventh round.

With just two rounds left, Firouzja holds the lead with five points, followed closely by Caruana with four points. Five players, including Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, are tied for the third spot with 3.5 points each.

In other matches, Nodirbek Abdusattorov defeated Wesley So, while Maxime Vachier-Lagrave drew with Anish Giri. Gukesh put up a strong fight against Caruana in an Italian opening game, ultimately securing a draw.

Praggnanandhaa faced tough competition from Ian Nepomniachtchi, resulting in a quick draw after just 19 moves. The standout performance of the day came from Firouzja, who outplayed Liren in a complicated middle game.

As the tournament progresses, the competition remains fierce, with players showcasing their strategic prowess on the chessboard. Fans can expect more thrilling matches in the remaining rounds of the Sinquefield Cup.