Super Chess Classic Round 1: All Games End in Draws, Including R Praggnanandhaa vs Alireza Firouzja
All Games End in Draws as Super Chess Classic Kicks Off in Bucharest
Bucharest, Romania – May 15, 2026
In a surprising turn of events, the opening round of the Super Chess Classic concluded with all games ending in draws, including a highly anticipated match between Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and France’s Alireza Firouzja. This marks the first Classical event of the Grand Chess Tour, and the excitement was palpable as players took to the board on Thursday.
Praggnanandhaa, who has been making waves in the chess world, faced a tense moment against Firouzja after an unremarkable Queen’s Gambit Declined opening. The game quickly escalated as both players exchanged three minor pieces early on, leading many to believe it was heading towards a quiet conclusion. However, Praggnanandhaa opted for a more complex strategy, allowing Firouzja to develop connected passed pawns on the queenside in exchange for a strong center.
As the game progressed into the middlegame, Firouzja showcased his tactical prowess, coming close to breaking through Praggnanandhaa’s kingside defenses. Yet, the intricate position proved challenging, making it nearly impossible for either player to find the optimal moves consistently. An error on move 35 shifted the game into an equal rook-and-pawn endgame, ultimately resulting in a fair draw after a grueling 60 moves.
Other Notable Matches
The round featured several other intriguing matchups, all of which ended in draws. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France faced Dutchman Anish Giri in a closely contested game. Giri, who had a slight advantage according to computer analysis, opted for safety, agreeing to a repetition after 32 moves.
World Championship contender Javokhir Sindarov struggled against Romanian Deac Bogdan-Daniel, who skillfully navigated the King’s Indian Defence into a known drawing line, securing a solid result.
In a notable debut, last-minute replacement Jorden Van Foreest of the Netherlands, stepping in for American Levon Aronian, held top seed Fabiano Caruana to a draw. Caruana’s Nimzo-Indian Defence equalized early, and after a pawn sacrifice, Van Foreest managed to secure half a point.
The final game of the day saw Wesley So of the United States and Germany’s Vincent Keymer also finish in a draw. Their Closed Berlin led to a tense middlegame, eventually transposing into a rook-and-pawn endgame, where peace was signed after 56 moves.
Looking Ahead
The Super Chess Classic features a total of ten players competing in a nine-round event, with a substantial prize pool of USD 350,000, including USD 100,000 earmarked for the winner. As the tournament progresses, chess enthusiasts are eager to see if the players can break the draw streak and deliver more decisive results in the upcoming rounds.
Super Chess Classic: Round 1 Results
- R Praggnanandhaa (Ind) drew with Alireza Firouzja (Fra)
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra) drew with Anish Giri (Ned)
- Deac Bogdan-Daniel (Rou) drew with Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb)
- Wesley So (USA) drew with Vincent Keymer (Ger)
- Jorden Van Foreest (Ned) drew with Fabiano Caruana (USA)
Stay tuned as the Super Chess Classic unfolds, promising thrilling matches and intense competition in the world of chess.