Praggnanandhaa Misses Winning Chances As Caruana Survives 95-Move Marathon

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and defending champion Fabiano Caruana battled to a draw in a marathon second classical game of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals on Wednesday, with the American surviving several difficult moments to maintain his lead in the title match.

Playing with the White pieces, Praggnanandhaa pushed Caruana for more than five and a half hours before the game ended in a draw after 95 moves. The Indian grandmaster had significant winning chances, particularly in the opposite-coloured bishop endgame, but Caruana defended stubbornly to escape with half a point.

The result leaves Caruana ahead 9-3 in the final. He had taken a six-point advantage by winning the opening classical game, while Wednesday's draw earned both players three points under the Grand Chess Tour scoring system.

The second game was a stark contrast to the opening encounter. Caruana had beaten Praggnanandhaa in the first classical game after the Indian made a costly 28...Rc8? error that allowed the American to win a pawn and eventually convert his advantage.

Praggnanandhaa therefore came into the second game needing to respond immediately, and he succeeded in putting Caruana under sustained pressure. The Indian was particularly close to converting his advantage in the late endgame, but Caruana found the defensive resources needed to hold.

The draw means Caruana retains a six-point cushion, but the match is still not over. The final day features two rapid games and four blitz games, providing Praggnanandhaa with opportunities to reduce the deficit.

Praggnanandhaa reached the championship match after an impressive 19-9 semifinal victory over Vincent Keymer. He drew the first classical game, won the second and then won both rapid games to seal his place in the final. Caruana, meanwhile, defeated Wesley So 18-12 in the other semifinal.

The Indian grandmaster has also been in excellent form during the Saint Louis leg of the Grand Chess Tour. His run to the final followed a strong performance in the preceding stages, helping him finish as the top seed for the season-ending knockout event. The four-player field consists of Praggnanandhaa, Caruana, So and Keymer.

Caruana, the defending Grand Chess Tour champion, is now just one step closer to retaining his title. With the classical portion of the championship match complete, he has established a commanding position, but Praggnanandhaa still has the faster formats in which to fight back.

The image of the two grandmasters shaking hands after their marathon battle reflects the nature of the contest: Caruana survived a major test, while Praggnanandhaa was left to rue missed winning opportunities.

The title will now be decided in the rapid and blitz stages on Today, with Praggnanandhaa needing a strong performance across the six remaining games to overturn Caruana's 9-3 lead and keep his hopes of lifting the Grand Chess Tour trophy alive.