Super Chess Classic: Praggnanandhaa Stuns Sindarov, Shares Early Lead in Bucharest

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa delivered a commanding performance to outwit in-form World Championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov in the second round of the Super Chess Classic here on Friday.

Playing with the black pieces, Praggnanandhaa showed remarkable composure in a position that initially appeared headed for a draw through repetition in the middlegame . However, the Indian opted for complexity rather than simplification and took his chances when the opportunity arose.

Sindarov employed a known variation of the Italian Opening , an approach largely considered outdated at the elite level. The Uzbek player managed to create a dynamic but pawnless middlegame , keeping chances alive for both sides.

The critical moment came when Sindarov sacrificed a piece in search of attacking prospects against the black king. Although engine evaluations suggested that the position remained close to equal, Praggnanandhaa defended with precision and gradually turned the game in his favour.

As Sindarov failed to generate sufficient counterplay, he was forced to resign after 42 moves , with Praggnanandhaa consolidating an extra piece and converting his advantage cleanly.

In other key games of the round, Fabiano Caruana of the United States drew with Dutch player Anish Giri from a closed Ruy Lopez . Caruana, playing white, failed to create any significant pressure, and the game simplified into an opposite-coloured bishops' endgame where neither side had winning chances.

Wesley So also shared the point with Jorden van Foreest after a Berlin Defence encounter. Despite playing with black, So could not create meaningful imbalances, and the game eventually liquidated into a completely equal ending.

France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave registered a strong win against compatriot Alireza Firouzja in a sharp tactical struggle with black pieces. He gained a couple of pawns in the middlegame and converted the advantage efficiently to secure his second consecutive decisive result after a drawn opening round.

Germany’s Vincent Keymer also impressed, defeating Romania’s Bogdan-Daniel Deac after a hard-fought Orthodox Réti Opening . Keymer outplayed his opponent in the middlegame and converted his advantage after 50 moves.

After two rounds, Praggnanandhaa, Keymer and Vachier-Lagrave share the lead with 1.5 points each , while Caruana, Wesley So, van Foreest and Giri are on one point apiece. Firouzja, Deac and Sindarov are on half a point each.

The Super Chess Classic is a nine-round event featuring 10 elite players, with a total prize fund of USD 350,000 , including USD 100,000 for the winner .