Wesley So Leads Sinquefield Cup as Praggnanandhaa Stays in Title Race

American Grandmaster Wesley So retained the sole lead in the 2026 Sinquefield Cup after the latest round, while India’s R Praggnanandhaa remained firmly in the title race with 3.5 points.

So, rated 2765, has collected 4 points from six rounds. He drew his latest game against France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2713). The half-point was enough to keep So alone at the top, with three rounds still to play.

Praggnanandhaa, rated 2750, also drew his latest game, sharing the point with Levon Aronian (2721). The Indian Grandmaster is now part of a four-player group on 3.5 points, alongside Fabiano Caruana (2792), Vincent Keymer (2767) and Vachier-Lagrave.

Praggnanandhaa has had an eventful tournament. He began with a draw against So before producing a major result against Javokhir Sindarov, defeating the World Championship challenger in a marathon 95-move game that lasted nearly six hours. He then lost to Keymer in the third round but bounced back immediately by beating Jorden van Foreest.

The fifth round saw Praggnanandhaa hold So to a draw, while Caruana defeated Aronian and Keymer beat Anish Giri, leaving So with a half-point lead at the halfway stage.

Giri subsequently defeated van Foreest, taking his tally to 2.5 points, while Sindarov remained on 2.5 after drawing with Caruana.

The 10-player, nine-round Sinquefield Cup, being held in St. Louis from August 10 to 20, is part of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour. Praggnanandhaa enters the event in strong form after winning the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz earlier this month, a result that moved him to second in the overall Grand Chess Tour standings.

With only three rounds remaining, So has a narrow advantage, but the crowded leaderboard leaves the championship race wide open.