Super Chess Classic: Praggnanandhaa Held to Draw as Firouzja Withdraws Due to Injury

Praggnanandhaa Held to Draw as Firouzja Withdraws from Super Chess Classic

Bucharest – In a dramatic turn of events at the Super Chess Classic, part of the Grand Chess Tour, Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa faced a tough challenge against Romania’s Deac Bogdan-Daniel, ultimately settling for a draw after a grueling 68 moves. Meanwhile, French prodigy Alireza Firouzja made headlines by withdrawing from the tournament due to an ankle injury, leaving the competition wide open.

Firouzja, who had already played two games despite his injury, decided it was impossible to continue and opted to withdraw on the rest day of the ten-player, nine-round tournament. His exit proved beneficial for Germany’s Vincent Keymer, who gained a walkover and extended his lead to a full point, now sitting at 4.5 points.

While Praggnanandhaa’s match with Deac was a battle of wits, it was Keymer’s performance that stole the spotlight. He now leads the tournament, a full point ahead of a pack that includes Holland’s Jorden Van Foreest, Anish Giri, top-seeded American Fabiano Caruana, and Praggnanandhaa, all tied at 3.5 points.

In the other matches of the day, Caruana and Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov played to a draw, with Sindarov still seeking his first win after six rounds. The young Uzbek had recently triumphed in the Candidates Tournament, earning the right to challenge Gukesh for the upcoming world championship, but has struggled to find his form in Bucharest.

Deac, despite being the lowest-ranked player in the tournament, showcased his resilience against Praggnanandhaa. The Indian Grandmaster opted for the Stonewall Dutch opening, but Deac matched him move-for-move, leading to a series of trades that ultimately resulted in a draw.

As the tournament progresses, the stakes remain high with a total prize pool of $375,000, including $100,000 reserved for the winner. With three rounds still to play, the competition is far from over.

Results from Round 6:

• Deac Bogdan-Daniel drew with R Praggnanandhaa
• Vincent Keymer received a walkover from Alireza Firouzja
• Fabiano Caruana drew with Javokhir Sindarov
• Jorden Van Foreest drew with Anish Giri

As the chess world watches closely, the remaining rounds promise to deliver more excitement and unexpected twists in this high-stakes tournament.