Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa secured a joint third position at the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia tournament, concluding the event with a total of 21.5 points. This outcome was reached alongside French player Maxime Vachier-Lagrave after a mixed performance on the last day of the blitz section. The 19-year-old, who recently won the Norway Chess title, faced a challenging start to the final day, suffering a defeat against Germany’s Vincent Keymer.

Despite the setback, Praggnanandhaa demonstrated resilience, bouncing back by gathering six points from his last eight games, which ensured his podium finish. His only other defeat on that day was against reigning world champion D. Gukesh. Among his notable victories was a match against Alireza Firouzja, the eventual champion of the tournament.

Alireza Firouzja Wins the Tournament

Alireza Firouzja displayed impressive form on the first day of the blitz event, accumulating eight points out of a possible nine. However, his performance on the final day was less dominant, managing to secure only five points from his subsequent games. His difficulties allowed Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov to catch up, leading to a tie at the top with both players ending on 23.5 points.

The tournament concluded with a tie-breaker to determine the champion. The initial two tie-break games ended in draws, leading to an Armageddon game. In this decisive match, Firouzja, playing with the black pieces, managed to secure a draw against Abdusattorov, effectively clinching the title as Black is required to simply draw to win under Armageddon rules.

Keymer finished the tournament in fifth place with a total of 20 points, while D. Gukesh from India claimed sixth place with 18.5 points. Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri took the seventh position with 17 points, followed by Romania’s Bogdan-Daniel Deac in eighth place with 15 points. Jorden van Foreest from the Netherlands finished ninth with 12.5 points, and Croatian player Ivan Saric rounded out the competition in tenth with seven points.

Impact on Grand Chess Tour Standings

The tournament had noteworthy repercussions for the Grand Chess Tour standings. Firouzja’s victory awarded him $47,000, while runner-up Abdusattorov received $42,000. Praggnanandhaa and Vachier-Lagrave, sharing third place, earned $25,000 each. Even though he did not secure the title in Croatia, American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana remains the frontrunner in the overall Grand Chess Tour standings with 20 points.

Vincent Keymer is currently in second place with 19 points, while Firouzja has advanced to third position with 18 points following his recent win. Praggnanandhaa is in sixth place in the overall standings, with a total of 11.5 points, indicating he has significant work ahead if he aims to qualify for the Grand Chess Tour Finals slated for later this year.

The young Indian player is poised to focus on upcoming events, both scheduled to take place in St. Louis. These events include another rapid and blitz tournament, as well as a classical format, representing vital opportunities for Praggnanandhaa to enhance his rankings and strengthen his chances of reaching the prestigious finale.

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