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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.

Two years ago, the chess world was rocked by a major scandal involving American grandmaster Hans Niemann and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Niemann's victory over Carlsen in the Sinquefield Cup sparked accusations of cheating, which Niemann denied. Despite the lack of evidence, the controversy has continued to follow Niemann.In the wake of the scandal, Niemann has launched a series of one-on-one matches against fellow grandmasters, titled "Hans Niemann Against The World." Indian GM Vidit Gujrathi, who faced Niemann in one of these matches, believes that Niemann's actions are beneficial for chess."I think what Hans is doing is good for chess," Gujrathi said. "Every sport has special characters who bring money and attention to the game and evoke strong emotions in people."Niemann has expressed a desire for an apology from Carlsen, but has also stated that his "vengeance will be victory on the board." He is scheduled to face Carlsen in the semifinals of the Speed Chess Championship in Paris on September 6.Former world No. 2 Levon Aronian, who played in the controversial 2022 Sinquefield Cup, believes that Niemann is a talented player but has reservations about his actions."I think Hans is a talented player who can reach the heights in chess," Aronian said. "But I can't say I support him. In a way, he's using this whole story perhaps to his advantage."The controversy has also sparked a conversation about cheating in chess. Aronian and Gujrathi agree that more stringent anti-cheating measures are needed."Anti-cheating measures have to be more stringent," Gujrathi said. "When you allow spectators, there has to be a delay in broadcast. They shouldn't be able to see the live position when they come in."Despite the challenges he faces, Niemann remains determined to become a top player."He has everyone rooting against him," Gujrathi said. "But that doesn't stop him. If anything, it fuels him."

In the highly anticipated first encounter between reigning World Champion Ding Liren and 18-year-old Indian prodigy D Gukesh at the Sinquefield Cup, the two chess titans played out a tense draw in Round 1.Despite Ding's 2-0 advantage over Gukesh in classical chess, the Indian teen held his own, showcasing his remarkable talent. The game began with Ding holding the White pieces, and on move 18, Gukesh made a surprising decision that drew criticism from commentators.Gukesh pushed his Black pawn to d4, opening up a potential mating threat on the kingside. Ding, with his hands resting on his face, pondered his next move for half an hour before playing the anticipated Queen to h6. However, he loosened his grip with a subsequent bd3 move, allowing Gukesh to create a passed pawn and counterplay opportunities.Earlier in the day, Gukesh was spotted entering the World Chess Hall of Fame with his trainer and father. The teen recently received a Mercedes-Benz E-class as a gift from his Chennai school. Despite his recent success, Ding has dropped to his lowest ranking since 2016, while Gukesh has reached his highest-ever ranking of world no. 6.After the game, Ding admitted to wanting to surprise Gukesh in the opening while preserving his preparation. He also acknowledged his improved form and the lessons he has learned from his recent losses.The draw in Round 1 sets the stage for an intriguing rematch between the two players later this year in their World Championship match. Gukesh's performance against the reigning champion demonstrates his potential to challenge for the highest honor in chess.