Chess: R Praggnanandhaa Held to Draw by Lower-Ranked Player in Round 6 of Superbet Classic Tournament, Gukesh Draws With Vachier-Lagrave

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Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa faced a surprising challenge in the sixth round of the Superbet Classic Tournament, part of the Grand Chess Tour, held in Bucharest on Wednesday (July 3).

Despite being ranked significantly higher, Praggnanandhaa was held to a draw by Romania's Bogdan-Daniel Deac.

Praggnanandhaa, known for his aggressive and tactical play, tried to outmanoeuvre his opponent using the Nimzo-Indian Defense. However, Deac, the lowest-ranked player at the event, matched him move for move. After 38 moves, both players agreed to a draw through repetition, indicating a well-matched contest that neither could definitively dominate.

Meanwhile, the other Indian representative at the event, D Gukesh, played a conservative game against French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. With the upcoming World Championship in mind, Gukesh chose to withhold his complete preparation, settling for a draw after a cautious game.

Among the other matches, Iranian-French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja shined with his tactical prowess against the United States' Wesley So. Firouzja's victory was his second in the tournament, placing him in close contention with the tournament leader, Fabiano Caruana of the United States.

The tournament, with a prize pool of $350,000, has just three rounds remaining. Caruana, currently leading, is being closely pursued by Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Firouzja.

Results after Round 6

• R Praggnanandhaa (IND, 3.5) drew with Deac Bogdan-Daniel (ROM, 2)
• Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA, 3) drew with D Gukesh (IND, 3.5)
• Fabiano Caruana (USA, 4) drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi (FID, 3)
• Alireza Firouzja (FRA, 3.5) beat Wesley So (USA, 2)

The competition remains intense, with top players vying for the prestigious title and the substantial prize money. As the tournament progresses, fans and analysts eagerly await the final rounds to see who will emerge victorious.