Praggnanandhaa Overcomes Deficit to Capture Grand Chess Tour Title
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa rallied from a six-point lag to defeat Fabiano Caruana and win the Grand Chess Tour Finals in St. Louis.
In St. Louis, Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa staged a dramatic comeback to clinch the Grand Chess Tour Finals, becoming the first Indian champion of the series. Caruana entered the final day with a six-point advantage after the classical round, but Praggnanandhaa seized the rapid games, winning both and flipping the scoreline. The blitz phase saw him navigate a tight contest, ultimately finishing with a 15-13 total.
The victory brings a $200,000 first-place purse and a historic milestone for Indian chess. Meanwhile, Wesley So secured third place by sweeping the blitz games against Vincent Keymer, finishing 18-12. The event highlighted the depth of talent in contemporary chess competition.
Why it matters
The win marks a historic first for India in a premier global chess circuit, boosting the sport's profile there.
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