New Delhi: R Praggnanandhaa produced one of the biggest comebacks of his career to defeat Fabiano Caruana and win the 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals in St. Louis on Thursday.
The Indian grandmaster entered the final day facing a six point deficit after Caruana had dominated the opening classical game. Praggnanandhaa had suffered a 6-0 defeat in their first classical encounter, but responded strongly in the second game by securing a 3-3 draw.
With the title seemingly tilted in Caruana’s favour, Praggnanandhaa changed the momentum dramatically in the rapid section. He won both rapid games to erase the deficit and move ahead in the match.
The pressure then shifted to Caruana in the blitz games. Praggnanandhaa maintained his advantage by keeping the blitz score level, eventually completing a 15-13 victory and securing his maiden Grand Chess Tour Finals title.
The first blitz encounter provided plenty of drama. Praggnanandhaa had a promising position and winning opportunities but made a mistake during a tense time scramble. Caruana was unable to take advantage of the error, allowing the game to finish in a draw.
The triumph marks a historic achievement for Indian chess, with Praggnanandhaa becoming the first Indian player to win the Grand Chess Tour.
In the third place match, Wesley So also mounted an impressive comeback against Vincent Keymer. After the rapid games ended with both players taking a victory, So dominated the blitz portion by winning all four games. He sealed an 18-12 victory with a game still remaining.
Praggnanandhaa’s title caps a remarkable season and further strengthens his position among the leading young players in world chess.
