[REVISION HISTORY]

Praggnanandhaa Wins 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals

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2026-08-28 15:59 UTC → 2026-09-01 15:19 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Praggnanandhaa staged a significant comeback to win the 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals in St. Louis on August 27, becoming the first Indian to claim the title. After trailing the defending champion Fabiano Caruana by a six-point deficit following the classical leg (3-9), the 21-year-old secured the championship with a final score of 15-13. He achieved this by winning both rapid games to shift momentum and holding Caruana to an even score during the blitz portion. His victory was aided by a decisive win in the third blitz game followed by a draw. For his victory, Praggnanandhaa earned a $200,000 first prize, bringing his total earnings for the 2026 tour to $404,354. He also secured an automatic berth in the 2027 Grand Chess Tour. In the third-place playoff, Wesley So defeated Vincent Keymer 18-12. The top three finishers—Praggnanandhaa, Caruana, and So—have all secured invitations to the 2027 Grand Chess Tour. The victory has drawn praise from chess legends including Garry Kasparov and fellow Indian grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, as well as congratulations from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Following his performance and a previous victory at Norway Chess, Praggnanandhaa has ascended to world number 8 in the September 2026 FIDE rating list with a rating of 2761. This rise also makes him the top-ranked player in India, overtaking Arjun Erigaisi.

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