Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa Kicks Off Zagreb Leg of Grand Chess Tour with Strong Performance
R Praggnanandhaa Shines at Zagreb Grand Chess Tour with Strong Start
ZAGREB – Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa kicked off his campaign in the Zagreb leg of the Grand Chess Tour with a stunning victory over top seed Vincent Keymer of Germany. The young Grandmaster’s performance on the opening day of the rapid section has left fans buzzing, as he secured a total of four points, placing him in joint second position.
Praggnanandhaa’s day began with an impressive display against Keymer, where he showcased his tactical prowess, launching a fierce attack that culminated in a decisive win in just 26 moves. This masterclass performance is expected to be remembered as a highlight of his burgeoning career.
Following his victory, Praggnanandhaa faced tough competition in his next two matches, drawing against France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and compatriot D Gukesh, the reigning world champion. Both games were hard-fought, demonstrating Praggnanandhaa’s resilience and strategic depth, as he held his ground against formidable opponents.
Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja of France emerged as the sole leader of the tournament, finishing the day with five points after winning his first two games and drawing against Anish Giri of the Netherlands. Firouzja’s strong start has put him a full point ahead of Praggnanandhaa and the other contenders, including Vachier-Lagrave and Keymer, who rebounded from his initial defeat with two victories.
D Gukesh, despite a rocky start against Vachier-Lagrave, quickly regained his footing by defeating Croatia’s Ivan Saric in the second round. Gukesh, who is set to defend his title against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov in an upcoming match, remains a key player in the tournament, currently sitting on three points.
As the tournament progresses, the stakes are high with nine rounds of rapid chess followed by an 18-round blitz marathon. The cumulative points from both sections will determine the overall winner, with two more events scheduled to take place in Saint Louis, USA, as part of the Grand Chess Tour.
Standings After Round 3 (Rapid):
- Alireza Firouzja (Fra) – 5 points
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra) – 4 points
- R Praggnanandhaa (Ind) – 4 points
- Anish Giri (Ned) – 4 points
- Vincent Keymer (Ger) – 4 points
- D Gukesh (Ind) – 3 points
- Deac Bogdan-Daniel (Rou) – 3 points
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb) – 2 points
- Jorden Van Foreest (Ned) – 1 point
- Ivan Saric (Cro) – 0 points
As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on Praggnanandhaa, who continues to prove that he is a force to be reckoned with in the world of chess.