R Praggnanandhaa Struggles at the Bottom of Leaderboard in Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament

Young Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa faced a tough day at the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz chess tournament as he struggled to improve his position and remained at the bottom of the leaderboard. Despite this, the 16-year-old did manage to secure victories against top players Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura in the blitz section.

Praggnanandhaa’s wins were not enough to lift him from the bottom spot, as he suffered losses in the remaining six games of the blitz section. With only nine rounds left to play, the young player will need a significant turnaround to climb up the standings.

Meanwhile, tournament leader Alireza Firouzja of France continued his impressive performance, extending his lead with 17.5 points. He was followed closely by Wesley So of the United States and Nepomniachtchi, who both had strong showings in the blitz section.

The day’s unexpected star was So, who won six games and drew two, positioning himself in a shared second place. Despite his strong performance, Firouzja remains the favorite to clinch the title with a 1.5-point lead.

As the tournament approaches its final day, all eyes will be on Firouzja and whether he can maintain his lead to emerge victorious. With the Sinquefield Cup on the horizon, the competition is heating up as players vie for the top spot in the standings.