India's Praggnanandhaa finishes joint third as Alireza wins Croatia Rapid & Blitz title
Grand Chess Tour: Praggnanandhaa closed with a mixed blitz day in Croatia, beating Alireza Firouzja but finishing joint third. The result kept him in the Grand Chess Tour race, though St Louis leg now carries real weight.
Indian Grandmaster and recently crowned Norway Chess champion R. Praggnanandhaa finished joint third at the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia tournament after a mixed final day in the blitz section, ending with 21.5 points alongside France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
Praggnanandhaa began the concluding day on a disappointing note, suffering a defeat to Germany's Vincent Keymer. However, the 19-year-old bounced back strongly, collecting six points from his final eight games to secure a place on the podium. His only other loss on the day came against reigning world champion D. Gukesh, while one of his most significant victories was against eventual champion Alireza Firouzja.
Firouzja, who had dominated the opening day of the blitz event with an impressive eight points from a possible nine, struggled to maintain the same momentum on the final day. The French Grandmaster managed just five points from his remaining games, allowing Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov to draw level with him at the top of the standings on 23.5 points.
The title was eventually decided through a tie-break after both players finished level. The first two tie-break games ended in draws before the contest moved to an Armageddon game. Playing with the black pieces, Firouzja held Abdusattorov to another draw, which was enough for him to clinch the championship under the Armageddon rules, where Black requires only a draw to be declared the winner.
Germany's Vincent Keymer finished fifth overall with 20 points, staying 1.5 points ahead of India's D. Gukesh, who ended the tournament in sixth place. Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri secured seventh place with 17 points, while Romania's Bogdan-Daniel Deac finished eighth on 15 points. Another Dutch player, Jorden van Foreest, claimed ninth place with 12.5 points, while Croatia's Ivan Saric rounded off the 10-player field with seven points.
GRAND CHESS TOUR STANDINGS TIGHTEN
The tournament also had significant implications for the overall Grand Chess Tour standings. Firouzja's victory earned him the winner's cheque of 47,000 US dollars, while runner-up Abdusattorov received 42,000 US dollars. Praggnanandhaa and Vachier-Lagrave shared third place and took home 25,000 US dollars each.
Despite missing out on the title in Croatia, American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana continues to lead the overall Grand Chess Tour standings with 20 points. Vincent Keymer occupies second place on 19 points, while Firouzja has moved into third with 18 points following his tournament victory.
Praggnanandhaa currently sits sixth in the Grand Chess Tour standings with 11.5 points, leaving him with considerable work to do if he hopes to qualify for the season-ending Grand Chess Tour Finals later this year.
The Indian youngster will now turn his attention to the remaining events on the calendar, both of which will be held in St. Louis. The schedule includes another rapid and blitz tournament followed by a classical event, offering Praggnanandhaa valuable opportunities to improve his standings and strengthen his bid for a place in the prestigious finale.
POINTS TABLE
1. Firouzja Alireza (Fra) 23.5; 2. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb, 23.5) 3. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra, 21.5) R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 21.5); 5. Vincent Keymer (Ger, 20); 6. D Gukesh (Ind) 18.5; 7. Anish Giri (Ned) 17; 8. Deac Bogdan-Daniel (Rou) 15; Jorden van Foreest (Ned) 12.5; 10. Ivan Saric (Cro) 7.
Indian Grandmaster and recently crowned Norway Chess champion R. Praggnanandhaa finished joint third at the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia tournament after a mixed final day in the blitz section, ending with 21.5 points alongside France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
Praggnanandhaa began the concluding day on a disappointing note, suffering a defeat to Germany's Vincent Keymer. However, the 19-year-old bounced back strongly, collecting six points from his final eight games to secure a place on the podium. His only other loss on the day came against reigning world champion D. Gukesh, while one of his most significant victories was against eventual champion Alireza Firouzja.
Firouzja, who had dominated the opening day of the blitz event with an impressive eight points from a possible nine, struggled to maintain the same momentum on the final day. The French Grandmaster managed just five points from his remaining games, allowing Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov to draw level with him at the top of the standings on 23.5 points.
The title was eventually decided through a tie-break after both players finished level. The first two tie-break games ended in draws before the contest moved to an Armageddon game. Playing with the black pieces, Firouzja held Abdusattorov to another draw, which was enough for him to clinch the championship under the Armageddon rules, where Black requires only a draw to be declared the winner.
Germany's Vincent Keymer finished fifth overall with 20 points, staying 1.5 points ahead of India's D. Gukesh, who ended the tournament in sixth place. Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri secured seventh place with 17 points, while Romania's Bogdan-Daniel Deac finished eighth on 15 points. Another Dutch player, Jorden van Foreest, claimed ninth place with 12.5 points, while Croatia's Ivan Saric rounded off the 10-player field with seven points.
GRAND CHESS TOUR STANDINGS TIGHTEN
The tournament also had significant implications for the overall Grand Chess Tour standings. Firouzja's victory earned him the winner's cheque of 47,000 US dollars, while runner-up Abdusattorov received 42,000 US dollars. Praggnanandhaa and Vachier-Lagrave shared third place and took home 25,000 US dollars each.
Despite missing out on the title in Croatia, American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana continues to lead the overall Grand Chess Tour standings with 20 points. Vincent Keymer occupies second place on 19 points, while Firouzja has moved into third with 18 points following his tournament victory.
Praggnanandhaa currently sits sixth in the Grand Chess Tour standings with 11.5 points, leaving him with considerable work to do if he hopes to qualify for the season-ending Grand Chess Tour Finals later this year.
The Indian youngster will now turn his attention to the remaining events on the calendar, both of which will be held in St. Louis. The schedule includes another rapid and blitz tournament followed by a classical event, offering Praggnanandhaa valuable opportunities to improve his standings and strengthen his bid for a place in the prestigious finale.
POINTS TABLE
1. Firouzja Alireza (Fra) 23.5; 2. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb, 23.5) 3. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra, 21.5) R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 21.5); 5. Vincent Keymer (Ger, 20); 6. D Gukesh (Ind) 18.5; 7. Anish Giri (Ned) 17; 8. Deac Bogdan-Daniel (Rou) 15; Jorden van Foreest (Ned) 12.5; 10. Ivan Saric (Cro) 7.
