Praggnanandhaa Outclasses Vincent Keymer; Gukesh Beats Ivan Saric To Return To Winning Ways

Last Updated:July 01, 2026, 23:42 IST

R Praggnanandhaa beats Vincent Keymer and draws Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in Zagreb Grand Chess Tour, Alireza Firouzja leads with four points after two wins

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa delivered a commanding performance to defeat top seed Vincent Keymer, kickstarting his campaign in the Zagreb leg of the Grand Chess Tour on a strong note.

Fresh from his triumph at Norway Chess, Praggnanandhaa carried forward his momentum with an aggressive and enterprising approach. Playing with the white pieces, he launched a direct assault on Keymer’s king, showcasing sharp preparation and attacking precision. The game ended in just 26 moves, earning him two valuable points and drawing praise for what could be remembered as a model attacking display.

In the second round, Praggnanandhaa settled for a draw against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who had earlier registered an impressive win over reigning world champion D Gukesh.

Gukesh, meanwhile, appears to be searching for rhythm. The youngest world champion seemed slightly out of sync in his opening game, possibly with one eye on his upcoming World Championship clash against Javokhir Sindarov. However, he responded strongly in the next round, defeating Ivan Saric after demonstrating resilience under pressure and solid defensive technique.

Alireza Firouzja emerged as the sole leader after winning both his games. He defeated Saric in the opening round and followed it up with a victory over Bogdan-Daniel Deac while playing with the black pieces. With each rapid win fetching two points, Firouzja sits atop the standings with four points.

Praggnanandhaa, Vachier-Lagrave and Anish Giri are close behind on three points each. Gukesh, Keymer and Nodirbek Abdusattorov have two points apiece, while Deac has one. Jorden van Foreest and Saric are yet to open their accounts.

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Aakash Biswas

A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I...Read More

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