Pragg, So and Duda score
The seventh round of the Sinquefield Cup was the most eventful so far, as three of the five games produced winners. Praggnanandhaa Rameshabu achieved his first-ever classical victory over Alireza Firouzja to join Fabiano Caruana in the lead with 4½ points. Meanwhile, Wesley So and Jan-Krzysztof Duda scored their first wins of the tournament, while Caruana and Levon Aronian, along with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sam Sevian, settled for draws.
Praggnanandhaa's success against Firouzja came in a Rossolimo Sicilian. With white, Firouzja failed to generate pressure from the opening and soon slipped into an inferior middlegame. Praggnanandhaa kept matters under control and steadily tightened his grip on the position. The win was not only his first against Firouzja in a classical setting but also a crucial step in the race to reach the Grand Chess Tour Finals in São Paulo.
Firouzja 0-1 Praggnanandhaa
Analysis by Johannes Fischer
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Alireza Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Wesley So defeated world champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Playing with white, So faced ambitious play from his opponent, who pushed hard for a win with the black pieces. Gukesh's aggressive strategy backfired, however, as So defended calmly and took advantage of the weaknesses that appeared once the attack subsided. The US grandmaster converted his advantage confidently, marking his first win of the event.
So 1-0 Gukesh
Analysis by Johannes Fischer
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Wesley So and Gukesh Dommaraju | Photo: Lennart Ootes
The third decisive result of the round saw Jan-Krzysztof Duda overcome Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Abdusattorov seized the initiative early on but lacked a clear path to an advantage. When the chance for a threefold repetition arose, he declined, only to drift into difficulties soon afterwards. Duda capitalised on the errors and guided the game to a deserved win, also his first in the tournament.
Duda 1-0 Abdusattorov
Analysis by Karsten Müller
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Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Nodirbek Abdusattorov | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Caruana's meeting with Aronian in the French Defence was a well-prepared theoretical battle that fizzled out into a draw without either player being able to create genuine winning chances. Vachier-Lagrave and Sevian also halved the point after a balanced struggle.
With just two rounds remaining, Caruana and Praggnanandhaa share the lead on 4½ points, half a point ahead of So and Aronian.
Round 7 results
Standings after round 7
All games
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