Praggnanandhaa Dominates Keymer to Edge Closer to Grand Finale

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa moved significantly closer to the final of the Grand Chess Tour finale after defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the second classical game of their semifinal. Praggnanandhaa secured a 9-3 lead in the mini-match with the victory and now needs only six more points to reach the final of the $450,000 tournament. The Indian grandmaster produced a strong finish after facing difficulties early in the game and eventually forced Keymer to resign on the 55th move.

The game began with Praggnanandhaa playing the white pieces in a Bishop’s Opening, but Keymer quickly managed to establish a strong position. The German grandmaster gained control in the early stages and had a realistic opportunity to launch an attack against Praggnanandhaa’s king. Praggnanandhaa had made a few inaccuracies, allowing Keymer to dictate the course of the opening. However, the Indian remained composed and waited for an opportunity to change the direction of the game.

That opportunity came when Keymer fell into a tactical sequence that allowed Praggnanandhaa to win a rook in exchange for a knight. Although the material balance alone did not immediately settle the game, the resulting position increasingly favoured the Indian. Praggnanandhaa also obtained an advanced passed pawn, while Keymer’s remaining rook became trapped and struggled to find useful squares. The position became particularly complicated as both players began facing significant time pressure.

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As the game entered the second time control, Praggnanandhaa took complete control of the position. Keymer attempted to prolong the contest and search for defensive chances, but the Indian grandmaster continued to increase the pressure. Praggnanandhaa’s pieces were positioned aggressively around the black king, and he came close to creating a direct checkmating attack. With his position deteriorating and few practical options remaining, Keymer resigned on move 55, handing Praggnanandhaa another important victory in the semifinal.

The result leaves Praggnanandhaa in a highly favourable position with 9 points against Keymer’s 3. The semifinal still has two rapid games and four blitz games remaining. Each rapid victory is worth four points, while a win in blitz earns two points. A total of 28 points are available in the semifinal, and a player must reach 15 points to qualify for the championship final. Praggnanandhaa therefore requires only six additional points from the remaining games to secure his place in the final.

The other semifinal remains much more closely contested after Fabiano Caruana of the United States drew with compatriot Wesley So. Caruana had built a significant advantage after producing strong preparation in a Berlin Defence, but Wesley resisted under heavy pressure and eventually reached a drawn king-and-pawn ending. The game lasted 50 moves. The winner of the Praggnanandhaa-Keymer semifinal will advance to the Grand Chess Tour final, while the losing semifinalists will meet in a separate match for third place.

The Grand Chess Tour finale carries a total prize fund of $450,000, with $200,000 reserved for the champion. The runner-up will receive $125,000, while the third-place finisher will earn $75,000 and the fourth-place player will take home $50,000. The top three finishers will also receive direct invitations to next year's Grand Chess Tour. With his 9-3 advantage, Praggnanandhaa is now firmly in control of his semifinal and is within touching distance of securing a place in the title showdown.

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