New Delhi: R Praggnanandhaa kept his Grand Chess Tour title hopes alive by holding Fabiano Caruana to a draw in the second classical game of their 2026 final on Wednesday. However, the Indian grandmaster still faces a steep challenge after falling six points behind in the opening game.
The second classical encounter ended in a 3 3 draw, leaving Caruana with a 9 3 advantage after the two games. With the classical phase now complete, Praggnanandhaa must rely on the rapid and blitz stages to close the gap and turn the title contest around.
Caruana made a strong start to the final by defeating Praggnanandhaa in the opening classical game and collecting six points under the scoring system used for the match.
The Indian player had remained competitive for much of the game after an unconventional opening led to a complicated middlegame. The position featured a bishop against a knight and initially offered Caruana no straightforward path to an advantage.
The decisive moment came on Praggnanandhaa’s 28th move. A tactical error allowed Caruana to win material and gradually convert his advantage into victory.
The result was also significant for Caruana, who recorded his first classical win in a Grand Chess Tour Final. He had previously appeared in the finals in 2018 and 2025, but had not managed a classical victory in the competition.
The draw in the second classical game prevented Caruana from extending his lead further and gave Praggnanandhaa an opportunity to mount a comeback.
However, the Indian star now needs a strong performance in the faster formats. The rapid and blitz games carry crucial points and offer Praggnanandhaa a chance to reduce the deficit quickly.
Trailing 3 9, Praggnanandhaa faces a demanding final stretch, but the title remains mathematically within reach if he can produce a dominant run in the remaining games.
The battle now shifts away from classical chess, where Caruana has established a commanding advantage, to the faster formats where momentum can change rapidly.
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