Praggnanandhaa Holds Steady with Draw Against Van Foreest as Keymer Takes Lead in Super Chess Classic

R. Praggnanandhaa Holds Steady in Super Chess Classic as Vincent Keymer Takes the Lead

Bucharest, May 18, 2026 — Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa showcased his resilience in the fourth round of the Super Chess Classic, managing a draw against Dutch player Jorden Van Foreest. Meanwhile, Germany’s Vincent Keymer seized the spotlight with a commanding victory over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard.

Praggnanandhaa, who has been steadily building his reputation in the chess world, now stands at 2.5 points after four rounds, thanks to one win against Alireza Firouzja of France and three draws. His latest match against Van Foreest featured an irregular opening, but the young Indian prodigy quickly equalized, leading to a truce after just 35 moves. Van Foreest, currently ranked in the top 20 globally, pushed hard for a win but ultimately settled for a draw.

In contrast, Keymer’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He outmaneuvered Vachier-Lagrave in a middle game that saw him exploit weaknesses in the Frenchman’s position. After initiating an English attack against the Najdorf Sicilian, Keymer capitalized on a critical error from Vachier-Lagrave, trading a rook for a bishop and sealing the game in just 38 moves. With this victory, Keymer now leads the tournament with three points.

The day also saw Anish Giri secure an easy draw against World Championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov, while Wesley So was held to a draw by Romania’s Deac Bogdan-Daniel. Notably, Firouzja did not participate in the fourth round due to health issues, leaving his fans concerned.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Keymer, who is proving to be a formidable contender. Praggnanandhaa, with his steady performance, continues to impress, leaving fans eager to see how he will fare in the upcoming rounds.

Results from Round 4:

• Jorden Van Foreest (Ned, 2.5) drew with R. Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 2.5)
• Fabiano Caruana (USA, 1.5) vs. Alireza Firouzja (Fra, 0.5) – Game postponed
• Wesley So (USA, 2) drew with Deac Bogdan-Daniel (Rou, 1)
• Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 1.5) drew with Anish Giri (Ned, 2.5)
• Vincent Keymer (Ger, 3) defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra, 2)

As the tournament unfolds, chess enthusiasts are left anticipating the next thrilling matchups in this prestigious event.