Indian prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa delivered a masterclass against French GM Alireza Firouzja in a thrilling seventh round of the Sinquefield Cup 2025, securing a swift 27-move victory and climbing to joint leadership alongside American Fabiano Caruana with 4.5 points.
The game saw Praggnanandhaa dominate from the middle game, exploiting Alireza’s misjudged position after the Rossolimo Sicilian opening. With precise central control and a powerful bishop pair, Praggnanandhaa dismantled Firouzja’s defenses, forcing a blunder in a lost endgame.
Meanwhile, world champion D. Gukesh suffered a setback against Wesley So. Opting for the Berlin Defense, Gukesh lost material in a dynamic middle game and eventually his queen, conceding the point to the American.
The round was a refreshing change after two draw-heavy rounds, producing three decisive games out of five. With Caruana and Praggnanandhaa leading, Aronian and So trail closely with 4 points each. Nodirbek Abdusattorov remains at the bottom with 1.5 points.
