Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa produced a remarkable turnaround against Fabiano Caruana to win the Grand Chess Tour Finals and secure the biggest title of his career in St. Louis on Thursday (local time).Praggnanandhaa overturned a six-point deficit at the start of the day, winning both rapid games against Caruana before holding his nerve in the blitz section to seal a 15-13 victory.The triumph also saw Praggnanandhaa create history. He became the first Indian player to win the Grand Chess Tour.The victory earned the young grandmaster the $200,000 first prize.
Praggnanandhaa erases six-point deficit
Caruana entered the final day with a commanding six-point advantage after the classical games. Praggnanandhaa, however, came out firing in the rapid section and won both games to completely change the complexion of the contest.With the momentum firmly on his side, the Indian needed to navigate the four-game blitz phase without surrendering his lead.The opening blitz encounter nearly went against Praggnanandhaa. He had winning chances but blundered during a time scramble, allowing his position to deteriorate. Caruana could not find the winning continuation, and the game eventually ended in a draw.Praggnanandhaa then managed to keep the match level in blitz and completed his comeback with a 15-13 aggregate victory.
Caruana had taken early control
The final had initially looked heavily tilted in Caruana’s favour.Praggnanandhaa lost the first classical game 6-0, leaving himself with a significant deficit heading into the remainder of the contest.He responded in the second classical game by holding Caruana to a 3-3 draw. Although the result meant Caruana still carried a six-point advantage into the final day, Praggnanandhaa’s comeback in the rapid games changed everything.
Wesley So finishes third
GM Wesley So also produced an impressive comeback in the third-place match against GM Vincent Keymer.The two players split the rapid games, trading victories before So took complete control in blitz.So won all four blitz games to clinch the match with one game still remaining, sealing an 18-12 victory over Keymer.Praggnanandhaa’s victory, meanwhile, marked a landmark moment for Indian chess as he became the country’s first Grand Chess Tour champion.
