Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa Shines in Rapid Section of Grand Chess Tour

Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa shines in Rapid and blitz chess tournament

In a thrilling display of skill and strategy, Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa once again proved his mettle as the best performing Indian in the faster version of the game. The young prodigy finished sole third in the rapid section of the Rapid and blitz chess tournament, a part of the Grand Chess tour.

The tournament saw Wei Yi of China continue his brilliant form, ultimately clinching the top spot in the rapid section. Wei Yi secured victory over World Championship challenger D. Gukesh and Nodirbek Abdusattorov before settling for a draw against Praggnanandhaa in the final round.

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, known for his exceptional skills, had to settle for second place after securing a sole victory against Vincent Keymer of Germany and two draws on the final day of rapid.

With the event only halfway through, there are still 18 more rounds of blitz to be played before a winner is decided in the USD 175,000 prize money tournament.

Wei Yi finished with an impressive 13 points, with each win worth two points and each draw netting him one point. Carlsen ended with 12 points, while Praggnanandhaa secured 10 points, earning him the sole third spot.

Local star Duda Jan-Kryzstof and early leader Kirill Shevchenko of Romania finished with nine points each, securing a joint fourth place finish. Erigaisi Arjun and Abdusattorov were tied for the sixth spot with eight points each.

Gukesh, Anish Giri of Holland, and Keymer filled up the last three places with seven points each. However, with each game in blitz worth one point for a win and half for a draw, the field remains wide open for the competitors.

The final results of the rapid section are as follows:
1. Wei Yi – 13 points
2. Carlsen – 12 points
3. Praggnanandhaa – 10 points
4-5. Duda, Shevchenko – 9 points each
6-7. Arjun, Abdusattorov – 8 points each
8-10. Gukesh, Giri, Keymer – 7 points each

The competition is fierce, and fans can expect more exciting matches as the tournament progresses. Stay tuned for more updates on this thrilling chess event.