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Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa's hopes of a strong finish at the Sinquefield Cup took a hit as he squandered a winning position against Wesley So of America in the fifth round. The Indian prodigy, who had a chance to move into contention for the title, faltered in the endgame, allowing So to escape with a draw.Praggnanandhaa's setback was compounded by World Championship challenger D Gukesh, who settled for a hard-fought draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan. The Indian duo, who have been in impressive form this year, have now dropped valuable points in the tournament.Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja of France emerged as the sole leader after beating Anish Giri of Holland. The French prodigy, who has been in scintillating form, now has 3.5 points, a half point ahead of So.The other matches in the 10-player round-robin tournament ended in draws. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, Ding Liren of China, Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia, and Fabiano Caruana of the United States all shared the third spot on 2.5 points each.Praggnanandhaa's loss was particularly disappointing as he had been in a commanding position against So. The Indian had a significant material advantage in the endgame but failed to convert it into a victory. This has been a recurring theme for Praggnanandhaa, who has often struggled to close out games from winning positions.Despite the setback, Praggnanandhaa remains in contention for a top-three finish. He will need to bounce back strongly in the remaining rounds and hope that the leaders falter.

World Championship challenger D Gukesh will seek to enhance his reputation in rapid and blitz chess as he joins Vidit Gujrathi in the Superunited rapid and blitz chess tournament, part of the Grand Chess Tour.Gukesh, who is set to face Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren in Singapore from November 20th for the World Championship title, has consistently demonstrated his prowess in classical chess. However, he is yet to establish himself among the world's elite in faster time controls.In the event of a tie in the World Championship, rapid and blitz games will be played to determine the winner. Gukesh will be eager to emulate American Fabiano Caruana, who recently won the tiebreaker in Bucharest by defeating Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and Alireza Firouzja of France.Gujrathi, who received a wildcard, will be the other Indian participant in the tournament, which offers a prize pool of USD 175,000. The event will feature nine rounds of rapid chess and 18 rounds of blitz chess.With each rapid win worth two points and each blitz win worth one point, the odds favor top seed Caruana, who will aim for consecutive victories on the tour. Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi and Alireza are other contenders who could challenge for the title.Wesley So of the United States, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, and Anish Giri of the Netherlands are also in contention, while local star Ivan Saric and American Levon Aronian complete the ten-player field.So remains a threat but is struggling for form, while Vachier-Lagrave has yet to prove his consistency. Aronian led his team to victory in the recent Global Chess League in Dubai, but the former Armenian is past his peak. Giri has had mixed results in faster time controls and will be looking to end the tournament on a high note.All eyes will be on Gujrathi to see if he can replicate his impressive performance in the recent Candidates Tournament. Gujrathi was one of the best-prepared players in that event and could spring some surprises in Zagreb.

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa's quest for a joint lead at the Superbet Classic chess tournament was thwarted by a draw against compatriot D Gukesh in the third round. Despite having an opportunity to avenge his loss to Gukesh in the Candidates tournament earlier this year, Praggnanandhaa failed to find a winning continuation after Gukesh salvaged a drawn endgame.The Catalan opening witnessed Gukesh sacrificing a pawn early, with Praggnanandhaa countering on the Queen side. However, Gukesh regained the pawn and gained an optical advantage with his Knight against Praggnanandhaa's Bishop.In the ensuing endgame, Gukesh blundered on move 53, leading to a forced liquidation and a King and pawns endgame. While Praggnanandhaa may have found a winning continuation on another day, luck favored Gukesh, and the game ended in a draw.All five games in the ten-player double round-robin tournament ended in draws for the first time in three days. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave came close to victory against Alireza Firouzja in a Berlin defense game, but a late error allowed Firouzja to escape with a draw.The lead positions remained unchanged, with Gukesh and Fabiano Caruana of the United States sharing the top spot with two points each. Vachier-Lagrave, Praggnanandhaa, Firouzja, Wesley So, Giri, and Nepomniachtchi trail with 1.5 points apiece.Dutchman Anish Giri drew on his 30th birthday against Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, while Deac Bogdan-Daniel of Romania held off Wesley So in a slightly worse endgame.

Newly-crowned FIDE Candidates' champion D Gukesh displayed resilience and determination in the Superbet rapid and blitz tournament, a part of the Grand Chess Tour. After a slow start, Gukesh recovered to defeat compatriot R Praggnanandhaa and Vincent Keymer.Praggnanandhaa, who lost to Gukesh in the first round, bounced back strongly in the fifth round by defeating Anish Giri. Gukesh also capitalized on his opportunities to crush Keymer.Romanian Kirill Shevchenko's impressive run was halted by Erigaisi Arjun, who secured his first victory in the event. World number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway joined Shevchenko in the lead with seven points out of a possible ten. Wei Yi of China trails by one point.Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun share the fourth spot with five points, alongside Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan. Jan-Kryzstof Duda of Poland and Vincent Keymer of Germany occupy the eighth spot with four points, while Giri languishes at the bottom with just two points.Four more rounds remain in the rapid section before an 18-round blitz tournament commences.Earlier, Arjun held Carlsen to a draw in the opener and drew two more games to stay within striking distance of early leader Shevchenko. Gukesh lost his first two games before drawing the third, while Praggnanandhaa recovered in the third round to beat Abdusattorov.Shevchenko emerged as the early leader with three consecutive victories. He benefited from a blunder by Gukesh in the first round, defeated Praggnanandhaa in a brilliant game, and outplayed Keymer.Arjun showcased a solid approach with three draws, while Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa had mixed results. Gukesh blundered his queen in the first round against Shevchenko and lost to Abdusattorov in the second round. Praggnanandhaa drew against Duda but lost to Shevchenko before defeating Abdusattorov.

India's D Gukesh remains in contention for the World Championship challenger spot after Round 12 of the Candidates tournament, sharing the lead with Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura. With just two rounds remaining, the race for the coveted title is heating up.Gukesh, known for his aggressive style, employed a rare opening idea in the Nimzo-Indian against Nijat Abasov. The Azerbaijani was caught off guard and struggled to find logical moves. Gukesh's plan to unsettle his opponent and play for a win proved successful, as Abasov missed drawing chances in the endgame.Fabiano Caruana, who had a slow start to the tournament, has surged back into contention with a win over India's Vidit Gujrathi. Caruana's victory keeps him half a point behind the leaders.Nakamura, the American grandmaster, has also joined the leading trio after defeating Alireza Firouzja. Nakamura has won three consecutive games, putting him in a strong position to challenge for the World Championship.The only draw in the Open section came between Praggnanandhaa and Nepomniachtchi.In the Women's section, Kateryna Lagno and Lei Tingjie drew their match, while Vaishali Rameshbabu defeated Anna Muzychuk. Aleksandra Goryachkina and Koneru Humpy also played out a draw, while Nurgyul Salimova and Tan Zhongyi shared the point.With two rounds remaining, the tension is palpable as the players vie for the chance to challenge the reigning World Champion, Magnus Carlsen. Gukesh, Nepomniachtchi, and Nakamura are the frontrunners, but Caruana and Praggnanandhaa are still in the hunt.

The Candidates Tournament, a prestigious event that determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship, has reached its penultimate stage with the standings in constant flux.In Round 11, Indian prodigy D Gukesh faced a time crunch against Fabiano Caruana and had to settle for a draw. Fellow Indians R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi suffered losses, further complicating the race for the title.Ian Nepomniachtchi, a two-time Candidates winner, showcased his resilience by securing a victory with Black against Vidit Gujrathi. Despite facing two lost positions in a marathon game, Nepomniachtchi managed to turn the tables and move into sole lead. Vidit's decision to push for a win in a seemingly equal position proved costly, as he missed multiple winning chances and ultimately handed Nepomniachtchi a crucial victory.Hikaru Nakamura joined Gukesh in second place with 6.5/11 after defeating Praggnanandhaa with Black. Praggnanandhaa's time constraints allowed Nakamura to maintain pressure and convert an edge into a vital win.Caruana expressed relief with his draw against Gukesh, acknowledging that his opponent had created a slight advantage. "The main thing was not to lose," Caruana said.In the women's section, Tan Zhongyi extended her lead to 7.5/11 with a victory over Kateryna Lagno. Humpy Koneru and Vaishali Rameshbabu also secured wins, while Lei Tingjie and Anna Muzychuk drew.Round 13 pairings will see Nakamura face Alireza Firouzja, Gukesh take on Nijat Abasov, Caruana play Vidit Gujrathi, and Nepomniachtchi face Praggnanandhaa.In the women's tournament, Lagno will face Lei Tingjie, Muzychuk will play Vaishali Rameshbabu, Aleksandra Goryachkina will meet Humpy Koneru, and Nurgyul Salimova will challenge Tan Zhongyi.

The Candidates Tournament, a prestigious event that determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship, witnessed a crucial Round 10 battle between co-leaders Ian Nepomniachtchi and D Gukesh. The highly anticipated clash ended in a draw, leaving the tournament standings unchanged.Gukesh, playing with the Black pieces, surprised Nepomniachtchi by deviating from the Berlin Defense to the Cozio Defense. The Indian prodigy equalized quickly out of the opening, and after the minor pieces were exchanged, the players agreed to a draw on Move 40. Gukesh expressed satisfaction with the result, acknowledging Nepomniachtchi's dangerous nature with White.Meanwhile, Americans Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura emerged victorious in the only two decisive games of the open section. Caruana, ranked second in the world, defeated Alireza Firouzja, who has seemingly fallen out of contention. Caruana played the risky 6.Rg1?! and introduced a novelty with Bc4 on the seventh move. Firouzja made several errors, including 30...h4 and 32...Rh5, before both players entered a time scramble. Caruana's superior endgame skills proved decisive.Nakamura, recovering from a loss in the previous round, defeated the lowest-rated player, Nijat Abasov. Despite time troubles, Nakamura managed to secure the win.In the women's section, Lei Tingjie continued her impressive run by defeating Aleksandra Goryachkina. Tan Zhongyi and Kateryna Lagno drew their game, while Vaishali R upset Nurgyul Salimova.

Indian chess prodigies R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh aim to close the gap on tournament leader Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia as the Candidates chess tournament resumes in Toronto for its eighth round.Praggnanandhaa, known for his aggressive style, will face Frenchman Firouza Alireza, while Gukesh will take on compatriot Vidit Gujarathi. Nepomniachtchi, the defending champion, holds a comfortable lead with 4.5 points, half a point ahead of Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and Fabiano Caruana of the United States.Gujarathi, with 3.5 points, is known for his late-tournament surges, while Hikaru Nakamura shares fifth place with him. Alireza sits in seventh place with 2.5 points, followed by Nijat Abasov of Azerbaijan.The Indian trio has shown flashes of brilliance but has also faced setbacks. Gujrathi outplayed Caruana but settled for draws in promising positions. Gukesh had a strong position against Alireza but made costly mistakes. Praggnanandhaa has been solid, notably drawing with Caruana in a French defense and defeating Gujrathi.Against Alireza, Praggnanandhaa will seek to capitalize on his white pieces. "I have been playing quite well and am happy with the quality," he said. Gukesh, with black pieces against Gujrathi, will aim to make a statement.Nepomniachtchi and Caruana remain the only unbeaten players at the halfway stage. Nepomniachtchi has led the tournament after 50% of games in his previous two victories. Caruana, known for his explosive play, is a potential threat.In the women's section, Indian hopes have not materialized. Konery Humpy and R Vaishali are at the bottom of the standings with 2.5 points each, while Zhongyi Tan leads with five points. Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia is Tan's closest challenger.

The Candidates tournament, a grueling chess competition where only the winner qualifies for a shot at the World Championship, has reached its halfway point. With seven rounds played and seven more to go, the tournament has witnessed a mix of surprises, disappointments, and memorable moments.Overperformers:Two Indian teenagers, Gukesh D and Praggnanandhaa R, have defied expectations with their impressive performances. Gukesh remained undefeated until Round 7, while Praggnanandhaa has showcased his exceptional opening preparation and aggressive play. Both are now in joint second place, just half a point behind leader Ian Nepomniachtchi.Underperformers:Hikaru Nakamura, the world No. 3, and Alireza Firouzja, the crown prince-in-waiting, have struggled to live up to their billing. Nakamura has managed only one win in seven rounds, while Firouzja has suffered three losses. Firouzja's dismal performance has been attributed to his poor time management and a series of online blitz games he played before his Round 7 match.Move that Shook:Praggnanandhaa's 4...f5 against Vidit Gujrathi in Round 3 was a bold and unexpected move that caught the chess world by surprise. The Delayed Shliemann in the Ruy Lopez is a hyper-aggressive line with a somewhat dubious reputation, but Praggnanandhaa played it with confidence and precision.Time Trouble:The time control at the Candidates has been a source of controversy. With 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, players have often found themselves in time trouble, leading to rushed decisions and costly mistakes. Gukesh, in particular, has suffered from this time pressure, losing a game to Firouzja in a mad time scramble.Post-Game Press Conferences:Post-game press conferences have provided moments of levity and intrigue. Nepomniachtchi was asked about the contents of his thermos, revealing that it contained tea purchased from a gift shop in Canada. Firouzja, after his first win, admitted that he needed to play risky chess and win all his remaining games to have a chance of qualifying.Round 7 Results:* Open: Nakamura drew with Nepomniachtchi, Caruana drew with Praggnanandhaa, Abasov drew with Gujrathi, Firouzja defeated Gukesh* Women: Lagno drew with Salimova, Goryachkina drew with Tan, Muzychuk drew with Humpy, Lei defeated VaishaliRound 8 Pairings:* Open: Nakamura vs. Caruana, Nepomniachtchi vs. Abasov, Praggnanandhaa vs. Firouzja, Gujrathi vs. Gukesh* Women: Lagno vs. Goryachkina, Salimova vs. Muzychuk, Tan vs. Lei, Humpy vs. Vaishali