Vincent Keymer Takes Lead in Super Chess Classic After Firouzja’s Withdrawal Due to Injury
Vincent Keymer Takes Lead in Super Chess Classic as Alireza Firouzja Withdraws Due to Injury
Bucharest, Romania – May 21, 2026
In a dramatic turn of events at the Super Chess Classic, German Grandmaster Vincent Keymer has surged to the top of the leaderboard with 4.5 points after receiving a walkover against France’s Alireza Firouzja, who withdrew from the tournament due to an ankle injury. The sixth round saw all other matches end in draws, leaving Keymer a full point ahead of his closest competitors.
Firouzja, who had battled through two rounds despite his injury, ultimately decided he could not continue in the ten-player, nine-round tournament. His withdrawal not only marked a disappointing end to his campaign but also handed Keymer a significant advantage in the race for the championship.
With the remaining games concluding in stalemates, Keymer now leads the pack, followed closely by Dutch players Jorden Van Foreest and Anish Giri, as well as American Fabiano Caruana and Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, all tied at 3.5 points.
Keymer’s rise to the top has been nothing short of impressive, especially as he capitalizes on Firouzja’s unfortunate exit. “It’s always tough to see a competitor withdraw, but I’m focused on maintaining my lead in the upcoming rounds,” Keymer stated after the round.
In the day’s most notable match, Praggnanandhaa faced Romanian Deac Bogdan-Daniel. The Indian Grandmaster opted for the Stonewall Dutch opening, but despite his aggressive strategy, the game concluded in a draw after 68 moves. “I tried to create complications, but Deac played solidly,” Praggnanandhaa remarked.
Meanwhile, World Championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov, who recently won the Candidates Tournament, is struggling in Bucharest. He remains winless after six rounds, drawing his match against Caruana, which featured an Italian Opening. Both players opted for a cautious approach, leading to a quick repetition of moves.
As the tournament progresses, the stakes are high with a total prize pool of $375,000, including $100,000 earmarked for the winner. With three rounds still to play, the competition remains fierce, and every move counts.
Round 6 Results:
- Deac Bogdan-Daniel (Rou, 2) drew with R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 3.5)
- Vincent Keymer (Ger, 4.5) walk-over Alireza Firouzja (Fra, 1)
- Fabiano Caruana (USA, 3.5) drew with Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 2.5)
- Jorden Van Foreest (Ned, 3.5) drew with Anish Giri (Ned, 3.5)
As the chess world watches closely, Keymer’s lead sets the stage for an exciting finish to the Super Chess Classic. Will he maintain his momentum, or will the challengers rise to the occasion? Only time will tell.