Alireza Firouzja of France emerged victorious in the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz tournament, showcasing a dominant performance that saw him clinch the title with two rounds to spare. Firouzja amassed a formidable 23 points across the event, securing 11 points in the rapid section and a further 12 in the blitz. This victory earned him a $40,000 prize from the total $175,000 purse.
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa, despite an improved showing in the blitz section with eight points, finished last in the tournament. He had earlier accumulated four points in the rapid category, finishing the event with a total of 12 points.
Firouzja’s triumph propelled him to the top spot in the Grand Chess Tour ranking, surpassing Fabiano Caruana of the United States, who had a disappointing performance after winning the previous two events. Firouzja now holds 30.58 points, leading Caruana’s 26.75 points.
Praggnanandhaa, who started the tournament ranked third in the tour ranking, dropped to fifth with 17.25 points. He now faces a challenging task to secure a podium finish in the upcoming Sinquefield Cup, which begins in just two days. He will be joined by World Championship challenger D. Gukesh in this event.
Praggnanandhaa’s performance in the Saint Louis tournament highlights the fierce competition in the world of chess, where even slight inconsistencies can have a significant impact on rankings and tournament outcomes. The upcoming Sinquefield Cup will be a crucial event for Praggnanandhaa as he aims to regain his form and climb back up the rankings.
