Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa has finished an impressive runner-up at the prestigious Sinquefield Cup after a dramatic three-way playoff, a result that also secures his spot in the Grand Chess Tour Finale. The title in Saint Louis was ultimately won by American GM Wesley So, who triumphed in the tense tiebreaker on Thursday.
The final day of the tournament was packed with drama. Overnight leaders Praggnanandhaa and Fabiano Caruana both drew their final classical round games against Levon Aronian and D. Gukesh, respectively. This opened the door for Wesley So, who seized his opportunity by defeating Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov, forcing a three-way tie for first place with 5.5 points each and sending the tournament into a playoff.
Praggnanandhaa began the rapid playoff brilliantly, producing a masterful win against Caruana in his first game, which put him in a commanding position to win the title. However, the 20-year-old Indian prodigy faltered in his next game against So. The American GM then held Caruana to a draw in the final tiebreak game to score 1.5 points and clinch his second Sinquefield Cup crown.
Despite the heartbreak of narrowly missing out on the title, Praggnanandhaa's strong runner-up finish was a major achievement, earning him enough tour points to qualify for the season-ending Grand Chess Tour Finale. He joins an elite field of qualifiers that includes Caruana, Levon Aronian, and France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
This result caps a phenomenal year for the young Indian star, further cementing his status as one of the world's top players. He is already India’s sole representative in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the winner of which will earn the right to challenge fellow Indian D. Gukesh for the World Championship title. Praggnanandhaa will next be in action at the Grand Swiss tournament in Uzbekistan, which begins on September 3.
