Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa is on the verge of qualifying for the Grand Chess Tour finals after a decisive 9-3 victory over Germany's Vincent Keymer, needing just six more points to secure his spot in the prestigious US$450,000 tournament.
Key Points
- Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa secured a crucial victory against Vincent Keymer, establishing a 9-3 lead in their semi-final match.
- Praggnanandhaa is now only six points away from qualifying for the finals of the US$450,000 Grand Chess Tour tournament.
- The match against Keymer featured fluctuating fortunes, with Praggnanandhaa capitalising on a tactical trick and Keymer's time trouble.
- In the other semi-final, Fabiano Caruana drew with Wesley So after letting a winning position slip away.
- The winner of the Grand Chess Tour event will receive US$200,000 and a direct invite to next year's tour.
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated Vincent Keymer of Germany to take a 9-3 lead and came close to qualifying for the finals of the concluding event of the Grand Chess Tour. It was at best can be described as a game of fluctuating fortunes wherein Praggnanandhaa suffered early as white while Keymer had control and a legitimate shot at attacking the white king out of a Bishop's opening by the Indian.
Praggnanandhaa's Tactical Triumph
However, Caissa had other plans in store despite Pragg's early slips as Keymer fell for a tactical trick that netted him a rook for a knight but the position turned in favour of the Indian leaving an advanced passed pawn in addition to black's rook entrapment. With both players running out of time, Keymer found a way to continue but it was in the second time control wherein Pragg showed little lenience and was close to checkmating the king when Keymer resigned on his 55th move.
The victory meant that Pragg is now only six points away from making it to the finals of the 450000 USD tournament wherein US$200000 is reserved for the winner. There will be two more rapid games in which four points are reserved for the winner and four blitz games that give two points for winning a game. Normally the 9-3 lead that Pragg has could be the deciding factor in the mini-match.
Caruana's Missed Opportunity
In the other semi-final, Fabiano Caruana of United States must be cursing his stars as he let slip a winning position out of hands against compatriot Wesley So. Right from the beginning of a Berlin defense, Caruana called the shots and showcased a brilliant preparation that led to a huge advantage as the dust settled. Wesley was outplayed right from the opening but the fighter in him put him afloat in a jungle of variations. Facing a massacre, the Filipino-turned-American decided to put up a brave front and capitalized on some judgmental erros by Caruana to reach a drawn King and pawns endgame. The game lasted 50 moves.
Tournament Stakes and Payouts
In the grand finale a total of 28 points are at stake and anyone who scores 15 points qualifies to the finals while the losing semifinalist will play against each other to determine the third place finisher. The top three from here will also get a direct invite to the next year's Grand Chess tour and the winner from this event will walk home with 200000 USD. The second placed will earn 125000 USD, third will go home richer by US$75000 while the one finishing last will take away US$50000.
Results round 2 Classical: R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 9) beat Vincent Keymer (Ger, 3); Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 6) drew with Wesley So (Usa, 6).
