Praggnanandhaa Holds Wesley So to Draw in Super Chess Classic; Keymer Maintains Lead
Praggnanandhaa Holds Steady in Super Chess Classic Draw Against Wesley So
R Praggnanandhaa continued to showcase his resilience in the fifth round of the Super Chess Classic, part of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour, by securing a draw against American grandmaster Wesley So. This match, which unfolded without any decisive outcomes, saw both players reach a rook-and-minor-piece endgame in just 32 moves—a fitting conclusion to a day dominated by draws.
With this result, Praggnanandhaa, who has now drawn four games in the tournament, shares the second spot with Dutch players Anish Giri and Jorden Van Foreest, while Germany’s Vincent Keymer maintains a half-point lead with a total of 3.5 points.
The tournament has seen a tightly contested field, with France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Wesley So sitting in fifth place, each with 2.5 points. Close behind are Fabiano Caruana of the United States and Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov, both trailing at two points, with Sindarov holding one game in hand. Romanian player Bogdan-Daniel Deac occupies the ninth spot with 1.5 points, just ahead of France’s Alireza Firouzja.
In the match against So, Praggnanandhaa opted for the Berlin Defense, a choice that initially saw both players maneuvering cautiously. The early exchanges led to the loss of three minor pieces, but So managed to gain a slight advantage with a breakthrough on the kingside. However, Praggnanandhaa’s counterplay proved effective, prompting So to settle for a draw after 45 moves.
Keymer’s game against Giri also ended in a draw, with both players opting for the Berlin Defense. Their encounter quickly transitioned into a rook-and-minor-piece endgame, where a draw was deemed a just outcome after just 32 moves.
Tuesday marks a rest day in the tournament, allowing players to regroup before the final four rounds of this USD 350,000 prize money event. As the competition heats up, all eyes will be on the remaining matches, with players eager to secure their positions in this elite chess showdown.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Super Chess Classic unfolds!