Praggnanandhaa wins Grand Chess Tour title after historic comeback

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has become the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour title after a dramatic comeback victory in St. Louis, USA. Facing American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana in the final, Praggnanandhaa overcame a significant six-point deficit following the classical segment, where he trailed 3-9.

Praggnanandhaa turned the match around by winning both rapid games to take an 11-9 lead. Despite Caruana leveling the score at 12-12 during the blitz portion, the 21-year-old secured the championship with a 15-13 final score, aided by a decisive win in the third blitz game and a subsequent draw. For his victory, Praggnanandhaa earned a $200,000 prize.

In the third-place playoff, American Grandmaster Wesley So defeated Germany’s Vincent Keymer with an 18-12 score to claim third place. The top three finishers—Praggnanandhaa, Caruana, and So—have secured invitations to the 2027 Grand Chess Tour.