GUWAHATI: Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has claimed his latest career milestone, winning the 2026 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, the fourth and final rapid/blitz leg of the Grand Chess Tour. The 20-year-old secured his maiden title in the event along with a $50,000 prize.
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Praggnanandhaa sealed the tournament win by drawing against Javokhir Sindarov in the penultimate round, finishing with 23/35 points, 1.5 points clear of the field. He ended the event with a 1.5 point advantage over his closest challenger, Sindarov.
His campaign wasn't without hiccups. He opened with a solid draw against Vincent Keymer but then suffered a setback against Awonder Liang in round 11. He steadied himself as the event progressed, closing it out well ahead of the pack. In the final nine rounds of blitz, he lost one game, drew five, and won three, sealing the title without needing a playoff.
Attention now turns to the 2026 Sinquefield Cup, the last event before the Grand Chess Tour Finals, starting Monday, August 10, running alongside the 2026 Cairns Cup. It is expected to play a crucial role in deciding the four players who qualify for the Grand Chess Tour Finals.
This win adds to a stellar 2026 for the Chennai based star. In June, he became Norway Chess 2026 champion after grinding out a win over Vincent Keymer to complete a stunning run of four consecutive classical wins, a comeback from a 0-3 deficit against Alireza Firouzja earlier in the event, with wins including two over Magnus Carlsen along the way. Following that triumph, Tamil Nadu's government felicitated him with a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh.
With two Grand Chess Tour titles in a single year, Praggnanandhaa continues to cement himself as one of the sport's brightest young stars heading into the Sinquefield Cup and the race for the Tour Finals.