Fujairah Global Chess Championship: Pranav V claims title
India’s young Grandmaster Pranav V emerged victorious in the UAE, capturing the coveted title in the Fujairah Global Chess Championship – Superstars Section. In the final round, he defeated Spain’s GM Alan Pichot in a masterful rook endgame, finishing on 7/9 to secure the championship. With this exceptional performance, Pranav gained 28 rating points, reaching a career-best live rating of 2631, alongside 17.6 FIDE Circuit points. He also claimed the top prize of US$ 23,000. Every game on the top boards proved decisive for the final standings. On Board 2, GM Amin Tabatabaei (Iran) was held to a draw by GM Alexander Donchenko (Germany). On Board 3, GM Brandon Jacobson (USA) drew against top seed GM Nihal Sarin (India). On Board 4, GM Abhimanyu Mishra (USA) shared the point with GM Sanan Sjugirov (Hungary). These results paved the way for GM Jose Eduardo Martinez (Mexico) to reach the podium by defeating GM Sam Shankland (USA). Three players—Jacobson, Martinez, and Tabatabaei—all finished on 6 points. On tiebreaks, Brandon Jacobson took second place, Jose Eduardo Martinez third, and Amin Tabatabaei fourth. They earned US$ 13,000, US$ 9,000, and US$ 8,000 respectively. China’s GM Zhu Jiner, the only female competitor in the Superstars Section, impressed once again. She defeated Bulgaria’s GM Ivan Cheparinov in the final round, finishing fifth with 5½ points and earning US$ 7,000. Also placing in the Top 10 (by tiebreaks) were GMs Aditya Mittal (India), Alexander Donchenko (Germany), Sanan Sjugirov (Hungary), Abhimanyu Mishra (USA), and Lu Shanglei (China). Superstars section – complete results Masters section In the Masters Division, USA’s GM Brewington Hardaway triumphed with 7.5 points. GM Ata Umut Akbas (Turkey) finished second on 7/9, followed by GM Artin Ashraf (Iran) in third, GM Karthik Venkataraman (India) in fourth, and GM Reza Mahdavi (Iran) in fifth—each placement determined by tiebreaks. Masters section complete results Open section In the Open category of the Fujairah Global Chess Championship, FM Alimzhan Zhauynbay (Kazakhstan, U12) delivered a sensational performance to clinch first place with 8/9. Armenia’s Davit Baghdasaryan (U16), Turkmenistan’s CM Allayar Shirlilyev, and Iran’s CM Benyamin Babaniya all scored 7.5 points, taking second to fourth place respectively on tiebreaks. China’s Huaqi Liu (U14) also impressed, scoring 7.5 points to finish fifth. Open sections complete results Distinguished guests at the closing ceremony The championship’s closing ceremony was attended by esteemed dignitaries, including: E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Saif Al Sharqi, President of the UAE Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation Taryam Matar, UAE Chess Federation President GM Dana Reizniece-Ozola, FIDE Deputy Chair and of the European Chess Union Deputy President GM Victor Bologan, FIDE Executive Director Ali Nihat Yazıcı, President of the Turkish Chess Federation Written by Pavel Dvorkovich & Niklesh Jain Photos: Anna Shtourman, Vivek Sohani and Aditya Sur Roy Broadcast: YouTube Fujairah Chess and YouTube ChessBase India Hindi Flickr album: flickr.com/photos/203288106@N04/
FIDE Circuit: Praggnanandhaa pulls away with dominant summer
Praggnanandhaa R extended his lead in the FIDE Circuit race over the summer with impressive performances at the UzChess Cup Masters (1st place, 22.19 points) and the 12th Sinquefield Cup (2nd place, 20.72 points). With only four months remaining, he now holds a lead of nearly 55 points over second-placed Anish Giri—a gap that already looks insurmountable given the young Indian’s excellent form. Barring a highly unlikely chain of unfavorable circumstances, Praggnanandhaa seems poised to secure his spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Anish Giri rose to second place in the standings thanks to a strong performance at the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters, which earned him 20.94 points. The winner of that event, Vincent Keymer, broke into the top 10, while Amin Tabatabaei returned to this group following his good showing in the Fujairah Global 2025 – Superstars. Nodirbek Abdusattorov climbed to third in the race after finishing third at the UzChess Cup Masters, adding 18.56 points to his tally. Matthias Bluebaum also had a productive summer, gaining 17.91 points from his performances at the Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2025 A-Open and the 61st International Akiba Rubinstein Chess Festival, moving up to fourth on the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Ding Liren continues to slide down the standings—a predictable trend given that he has played only one Circuit-qualifying event this year. Notably, several Grandmasters in the current top 20—Chithambaram Aravindh, Vincent Keymer, Javokhir Sindarov, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Vladimir Fedoseev—have played only two Circuit tournaments so far. This leaves them significant potential to climb the rankings. With this in mind, the upcoming FIDE Grand Swiss is expected to trigger major shifts within the top 10. However, it is unlikely to threaten Praggnanandhaa’s commanding position at the summit. We maintain a dedicated page on our website for the FIDE Circuit 2025, featuring the latest information on eligible tournaments, current standings, and regulations. Visit: FIDE Circuit 2025
Štěpán Hrbek and Tereza Rodshtein crowned Czech Champions
The thrilling final round decided this year’s chess champions of the Czech Republic. In the women’s category, Tereza Rodshtein clinched the title, defeating Julia Movsesian in the final of the elimination tournament. In the open round-robin event, seventh seed Štěpán Hrbek emerged as a surprise winner, while Jan Vykouk and Tadeáš Kriebel claimed silver and bronze, respectively. The Czech Championship returned to Plzeň after a five-year break. While David Navara dominated the 2020 open tournament, this year he did not take part due to a scheduling conflict. Nevertheless, he attended the final two rounds at the Plzeň Congress Center Parkhotel as a commentator—much to the delight of the spectators. The games certainly lived up to expectations: only 22 out of 45 ended in draws. With two rounds remaining, eight of the ten players were still in contention for gold, underscoring the tournament’s competitiveness. Jáchym Němec and Jan Vykouk traded the lead for much of the tournament, but neither managed to convert their chances in the decisive final round. Vykouk drew his game, while Němec lost—to none other than 19-year-old Štěpán Hrbek, who thereby secured his unexpected national title. His final score of 5.5/9 reflected the remarkable balance of the event. The pre-tournament favorites struggled: Václav Finěk finished fifth, and Štěpán Žilka placed eighth. Final standings Open The women’s championship, held for the third consecutive year in a knockout format, began with a preliminary round followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. Each round featured two classical games, two rapid games, blitz, and, if necessary, an Armageddon decider. Several junior players also participated but were unable to match the experience of their older opponents. Tereza Rodshtein overcame all challengers on her way to the title, defeating Karolína Pilsová, Anna Lhotská, and finally two-time defending champion Julia Movsesian. In the bronze medal match, Kristýna Petrová outplayed Anna Lhotská. Tournament director and Chairman of the Czech Chess Association Martin Petr reflected positively on the event: “I am thrilled with the course of this year’s Czech Championship. I would like to thank all the players for their fighting spirit and fair-play approach. The spectators certainly enjoyed the exciting games and the tournaments—and I did too.” The organizer, Chess Club 64 Plzeň, expressed gratitude to all who supported the 2025 Czech Championship: the City of Plzeň, the Czech Chess Association, Plzeňská teplárenská, Parkhotel Plzeň, Ubytování U Foltýnů, PROdiamant, Calliditas Edutainment, NODAK, and the 64 Foundation. This article is based on a report by the Czech Chess Federation Official website: chess.cz/
FIDE September 2025 rating list: Vincent Keymer debuts in top 10 Open
The September 2025 rating list was shaped primarily by results from the Sinquefield Cup, Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters, 61st International Akiba Rubinstein Chess Festival, and the Spanish League Honor Division 2025 – a Swiss team tournament held in Linares. The top 10 Open saw several notable changes in August. Wesley So returned to this elite group after a ten-month absence, thanks to his victory at the Sinquefield Cup, which earned him 11 rating points. Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa also shone this competition, adding 6 points and reaching a career-high rating of 2785. Photo: Rafal Oleksiewicz The biggest breakthrough came from Vincent Keymer, whose dominant performance at the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters brought him 21 rating points and secured his first-ever place in the world top 10. In the women’s rankings, Zhu Jiner continued her steady climb. A strong showing in the Isbank of Türkiye Chess Super League netted her 12 points and lifted her to a career-best 2548. Biggest gains in top 100 Open and Women Abrahamyan, Tatev WGM USA 2407 (+64) Batsiashvili, Nino GM GEO 2469 (+28) Alekseenko, Kirill GM AUT 2674 (+22) Keymer, Vincent GM GER 2751 (+21) Yakubboev, Nodirbek GM UZB 2681 (+18) Ouellet, Maili-Jade WGM CAN 2348 (+17) Fataliyeva, Ulviyya IM AZE 2385 (+16) Tsolakidou, Stavroula IM GRE 2445 (+14) Andreikin, Dmitry GM FID 2710 (+15) Wojtaszek, Radoslaw GM POL 2661 (+13) The month’s biggest rating gainer was Tatev Abrahamyan, who scored an impressive 63 points at the Budapest One Week 2025. With this performance, the American WGM crossed the 2400 threshold for the first time and soared to a career-high 37th place in the women’s top 100. Photo: Michal Walusza Other strong performances came in the Spanish League Honor Division 2025, where Nino Batsiashvili, Kirill Alekseenko, Stavroula Tsolakidou, and Ulviyya Fataliyeva all collected valuable points. Meanwhile, Maili-Jade Ouellet significantly boosted her rating after an excellent showing at the Championnat Invitation du Québec 2025. Photo: Dolnośląski Związek Szachowy At the 61st International Akiba Rubinstein Chess Festival, Nodirbek Yakubboev won the round-robin event, gaining 16 points, while runner-up Radosław Wojtaszek added 13 to his tally. Finally, Dmitry Andreikin marked a successful return to classical chess after a ten-month break, earning 15 points with a solid performance in the Isbank of Türkiye Chess Super League.
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025: Expect the unexpected in Samarkand
For two weeks in September, the ancient capital of the Silk Road will be home to many of the best chess players in the world. When talent, youth, experience, and ambition collide, uncertainty is the only rule. Since its initiation in 2019, the FIDE Grand Swiss – held every two years – has distinguished itself as the strongest classical chess tournament. Featuring 11 rounds played under the Swiss system it is a battleground where the best face the best and only exceptional performance can secure victory. This is hardly surprising given what is at stake – substantial prizes and coveted qualifying spots for the 2026 Candidates Tournament in the Open and Women’s categories. The total prize fund amounts $855,000, with $625,000 allocated to the Grand Swiss and $230,000 to the Women’s Grand Swiss. The primary qualification goal of the tournament is clear: the top two finishers in both the Open and Women’s events will secure their places in the 2026 Candidates, which will decide the next challenger for the World Championship title. “The Grand Swiss has always stood as a unique tournament and one of the most anticipated events in the FIDE calendar. We are pleased that it will be taking place in Uzbekistan – a great chess nation which is investing in the sport and has a proven track record in organising major chess events,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said. “The rising youth dominating the chess scene in recent years will be tested in Samarkand, facing many of the most seasoned players on the planet. I am very much looking forward to the clash of generations. Overall, I believe that this tournament will have a strong positive impact on the promotion of chess, not just in Uzbekistan or central Asia, but much more broadly,” he added. The unpredictable winners of the Grand Swiss A look at the previous editions of the Grand Swiss – three in the Open and two in the Women’s category – shows that one thing is clear: once the games start, there isn’t much difference between the rating favourites and the underdogs, and nothing is certain until the end. In 2019, underdog Wang Hao emerged as the winner after a lucky victory over David Howell. The Chinese GM edged out the favourite, Fabiano Caruana, thanks to a better tiebreak. In that tournament, the then 23-year-old Kirill Alekseenko stunned the field, finishing in third place. Then in 2021, in Riga, Alireza Firouzja made his big mark on the global scene by overcoming seasoned GMs and winning the tournament outright. In a field dominated by youth, the experienced player Alexei Shirov delivered a great performance, tying for third place and earning a spot in the 2022 FIDE Grand Prix. In 2021, the inaugural Women’s Grand Swiss was held, which was marked by Lei Tingjie’s, securing the title with a round to spare. In the third edition, held at the Isle of Man in 2023, Firouzja faltered and finished in the middle of the scoreboard, but it was the Indian players who stole the show, with Vidit Santosh Gujrathi capturing the Open and Vaishali Rameshbabu triumphing in the Women’s competition. Vidit, despite losing in round one, rallied brilliantly to finish half a point ahead of Hikaru Nakamura. Players to look out for at the 2025 Grand Swiss This year’s Grand Swiss will see 116 players take part in the Open, including the World Champion Gukesh D, and 56 in the Women’s tournament. The Open tournament field is formidable. Eighteen players boast ratings above 2700, placing them in the Super-GM category, alongside 74 GMs rated 2600–2699 – world-class competitors capable of toppling anyone. With top contenders hailing from chess powerhouses such as India, the U.S, France, Germany, China, the competition will be fierce. Photo: Maria Emelianova Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, the current leader of FIDE Circuit, headlines the ranking list in Samarkand. The Indian youngster – who only turned 20 on August 10 – is already a seasoned player having dominated many tough tournaments and represented his country in Olympiads and team events. Praggnanandhaa is enjoying a career-best year as he became the top-ranked player in his native India and fourth in the world, his highest placement so far. Most recently, Praggnanandhaa was the runner-up of the Sinquefield Cup, which secured him a place in the playoff stage of the Grand Chess Tour. The superb strength and performance he has had this year so far has put Praggnanandhaa at the top of the favourites to win the Grand Swiss. Another title hopeful is Gukesh D – the 19-year-old World Champion who has made history several times already, most notably by becoming the first Indian to breach the 2750 ELO barrier, as well as being the youngest-ever winner of the Candidates and later on World Champion. Gukesh has had a bright year so far – finishing as the runner-up at Tata Steel and taking third place in Norway Chess, where he defeated Carlsen and Nakamura. Gukesh’s strength and world crown make him an exceptionally strong favourite in the tournament, but his status also makes him a prime target for many of the players in the Grand Swiss. The 19-year-old is already renowned for his focus and for managing to keep his nerves steady. Whether he does that in Samarkand will be decisive for his performance in the Grand Swiss. Arjun Erigaisi, India’s third big hope at the event, is also in strong form. A former national number one, he’s now ranked among the best players in the world. Then there’s Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, the 2023 Grand Swiss winner chasing for another title. Other top players in the race include the 2021 Grand Swiss winner, 22-year-old Alireza Firouzja, who captured another Bullet Chess Championship title in 2025, had a solid performance at the Superbet Rapid & Blitz and was a runner-up in the Esports World Cup, losing to Magnus Carlsen. Photo: Rafal Oleksiewicz Germany’s Vincent Keymer is another one to watch out for – the winner of the German Championship, Keymer is
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025: Updated dress code offers more flexibility
FIDE is pleased to publish the dress code for the FIDE Grand Swiss and FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss, reflecting a modern and inclusive approach while preserving the elegance of our sport. Key update Appropriate jeans are now permitted as part of the official dress code. This change offers players more comfort and freedom of choice, while ensuring that the overall appearance of the event remains professional and respectful. Dress code guidelines Men: Suit Dark business casual trousers, including classic, non-distressed jeans (blue, black, and grey) Unicoloured shirt (with minor deviations allowed, e.g. checkered or striped) Dress shoes and loafers with closed toes Unicoloured sneakers (soles can be a different colour) Women: Skirt suit, pantsuit, dress suit Dress Dark business casual trousers, including classic, non-distressed jeans (dark blue, black and grey) Shirt/blouse Dress shoes and loafers with closed toes Unicoloured sneakers (soles can be a different colour) FIDE’s perspective FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich highlighted the spirit of the change: “FIDE took the decision to provide more flexibility in the dress code. It is still required to follow the official standards, but elegant, appropriate jeans are also allowed. FIDE, chess players, arbiters, and officials must collectively strive to preserve the integrity of chess while also ensuring that the sport remains appealing to the audience and sponsors.” With this update, FIDE reaffirms its commitment to both tradition and progress — creating an environment where players feel comfortable and confident, while the game continues to shine on the world stage.
Fujairah Global Chess: Pranav V and Sanan Sjugirov share the lead at midpoint
The inaugural Fujairah Global Chess Championship 2025 has passed its midpoint. After five exciting rounds, leaders have emerged in all three groups: Superstars, Masters, and Open. In the Superstars section, India’s GM Pranav V and Hungary’s GM Sanan Sjugirov are joint leaders with 4 points each. Close behind on 3.5 points are Azerbaijan’s GM Aydin Suleymanli, USA’s GMs Brandon Jacobson and Andrew Hong, China’s GM Zhu Jiner, and Iran’s GM Amin Tabatabaei. In Round 5, the top board clash between Brandon Jacobson and Amin Tabatabaei in the Queen’s Gambit Declined Exchange Variation ended in a draw. Jacobson had the upper hand for most of the game, but a mistake on move 34 in the queen endgame allowed Tabatabaei to equalize. After a series of exchanges, the game concluded in a bare-king draw after 57 moves. On Board 2, Pranav V scored an impressive victory with White against Mexico’s GM Jose Eduardo Martinez. Playing the Sicilian Rossolimo, Martinez sacrificed a pawn in the opening to damage Pranav’s pawn structure. However, the Indian maintained balance through his knight’s activity. On move 19, Martinez’s decision to open up the kingside with his f-pawn backfired. Later, in an attempt to complicate matters, he sacrificed an exchange, but Pranav demonstrated accuracy and converted the advantage smoothly, winning in 47 moves. On Board 3, Sanan Sjugirov continued his excellent run by defeating compatriot GM Gleb Dudin. Playing the Vienna Opening with White, Sanan surprised his opponent in the opening and kept a firm grip throughout the game, finally clinching victory after 51 moves. Meanwhile, on Board 4, the tournament’s only female participant, China’s GM Zhu Jiner, impressed once again. Playing Black against Aydin Suleymanli, she obtained a nearly winning position several times but missed her chances in the endgame, allowing the game to be drawn after 64 moves. On Board 5, India’s GM Raunak Sadhwani, with White, was unable to convert a winning rook endgame against USA’s GM Andrew Hong (pictured below). A crucial miscalculation by Raunak allowed Hong to escape, and the game ended in a draw. All games begin daily at 15:00 CET and are broadcast live. The tournament is conducted in full compliance with anti-cheating regulations, with all players thoroughly checked before entering the playing hall. The inaugural edition of the Fujairah Global Chess Championship attracted enormous attention worldwide — uniting over 530 participants from 70 countries. Thanks to the Fujairah Chess & Culture Club and the event sponsors, the tournament has been organized at the highest level. Superstars standings after Round 5 Masters standings after Round 5 Open standings after Round 5 Fans can follow the live broadcast of the 1st Fujairah Global Chess Championship 2025 on the Fujairah Chess and ChessBase India Hindi YouTube channels, and also check full results via Chess-Results. Written by Pavel Dvorkovich & Niklesh Jain Photos: Anna Shtourman, Vivek Sohani and Aditya Sur Roy YouTube Fujairah Chess YouTube ChessBase India Hindi Photos are available on Flickr: flickr.com/photos/203288106@N04/albums
5th Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners: Registration continues
The countdown is on for the 5th edition of the FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, scheduled for October 14-16, 2025. Held as part of the Chess for Freedom project and the FIDE Year of Social Chess, this unique event brings correctional facilities from every continent together through the game of chess. Teams from the USA, Paraguay, Croatia, Italy, Australia, Czech Republic, Jersey, Portugal, Lithuania, Georgia, Singapore, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Kazakhstan, UAE, Ghana, Bulgaria, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini have already confirmed their participation. With more entries expected, this year’s edition is shaping up to be truly diverse and international. Registration remains open, and correctional institutions worldwide are invited to join this global initiative. Registration Participation is free of charge Each country may enter up to three teams: men’s, women’s, and youth (under 20) Teams may include inmates from one or multiple facilities Registration deadline: September 14, 2025 Event details Platform: Chess.com Time control: 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment Group stage: October 14 Championship round: October 15 Finals: October 16 Correctional institutions can register by completing the official form and confirming their entry via email to Tournament Organizer Mikhail Korenman (mikhail.korenman@ccsheriff.org). Now in its fifth year, the Intercontinental Championship for Prisoners has become a cornerstone of the Chess for Freedom program. The tournament offers incarcerated individuals the chance to represent their institutions on the international stage, develop skills that encourage discipline and critical thinking, and connect with a wider community beyond prison walls. By promoting education, rehabilitation, and inclusion, the event continues to show the constructive role chess can play in preparing individuals for reintegration into society. FIDE looks forward to welcoming even more teams to this year’s event.
FIDE Announces final decision on the case of Kirill Shevchenko
The FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission (EDC), in its Appeal Chamber, has issued its final decision in Case No. 06/2024: “Alleged cheating at the Spanish Team Championship”. The appeal panel, led by Chairperson Mrs. Yolander Persaud with members Mr. Khaled Arfa and Mr. Ravindra Dongre, has strengthened the earlier sanctions imposed by the First Instance Chamber (Chaired by David Hater, together with Olga Baskakova and Alan Borda). The Chamber considered both an appeal of Kirill Shevchenko and a cross-appeal of the FIDE Fair Play Commission (FPL), dissatisfied with certain findings made by the EDC First Instance Chamber and the sanction imposed. Having considered all arguments, the Appeal Chamber has decided, by unanimity of its members, that the appeal by Kirill Shevchenko fails and the guilt is confirmed, whereas a cross-appeal of FPL succeeds and accordingly, the first-instance decision was changed as follows: Respondent GM Kirill Shevchenko, found guilty under Article 11.7(e) of the FIDE Disciplinary Code. Sanctions: A three-year worldwide ban from all FIDE-rated events. One year of the ban suspended, contingent on the absence of further misconduct. The ban runs from 19 October 2024 until 18 October 2026, with the suspended portion in effect until 18 October 2027. The Grandmaster title is revoked effective from the date of publishing this decision. Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board, underlined FIDE’s firm commitment to chess integrity: “FIDE takes cheating cases among top players with the utmost seriousness. We are working hard on both prevention and swift, appropriate sanctions. Ensuring fair play is non-negotiable – it is essential to the credibility and future of our sport.” This reflects increasing efforts across FIDE divisions – including Fair Play, Arbiters, and Ethics – to strengthen detection systems, refine preventive training, and ensure swift disciplinary response when needed. The full text of the decision can be found here: ethics.fide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Case_06_2024A_decision_final.pdf
Wesley So wins 2025 Sinquefield Cup
Wesley So emerged as the winner of the 2025 Sinquefield Cup, edging out Fabiano Caruana and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in a dramatic blitz playoff. The American grandmaster, who was born in the Philippines, replicated his 2016 success by winning this prestigious event for the second time. The 2025 Sinquefield Cup—the final classical event and concluding leg of the Grand Chess Tour season—featured a $350,000 prize fund and took place at the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Missouri, from August 18–28. With an exceptionally strong field, the event was fiercely contested, ending with three players tied for first place on 5.5/9. Caruana seized an early lead after scoring back-to-back wins over defending champion Alireza Firouzja and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Praggnanandhaa, who opened his campaign with a brilliant first-round victory against World Champion Gukesh D, caught up with the leader in Round 7 after defeating Firouzja. That same round marked a turning point for So, who finally broke his streak of six straight draws by overcoming Gukesh and joining the race for first place. Heading into the final round, Caruana and Praggnanandhaa led with 5/8, closely followed by Levon Aronian and So on 4.5/8. First, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave made a quick draw with Jan-Krzysztof Duda, securing the top position in the overall GCT standings. Then Aronian, taking a pragmatic decision, split the point with Praggnanandhaa, a result that guaranteed both players spots in the 2025 GCT Finals. Caruana’s draw with Gukesh left So with a chance to force a tie for first. Rising to the occasion, So outplayed Abdusattorov, scoring a victory on demand and joining the leaders. A three-way blitz playoff was held to determine the champion. In the first game, Praggnanandhaa defeated Caruana after capitalizing on a crucial mistake by the American on move 24. In the second, So dismantled Praggnanandhaa’s queenside defense, forcing resignation. With this win, Wesley needed only a draw against Caruana to clinch the title—and he delivered, achieving this so-much-needed result after a hard-fought battle. Despite his triumph in the Sinquefield Cup, So narrowly missed qualification for the Grand Chess Tour Finals, falling short by just half a point. The Finals, featuring Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian, and Praggnanandhaa R, and will be held from September 28 to October 3 in São Paulo, Brazil. Photos: Lennart Ootes and Crystal Fuller | Saint Louis Chess Club Official website: grandchesstour.org/