Praggnanandhaa Wins First Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Title

Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has won his first Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz title, securing the prestigious Grand Chess Tour event with a dominant performance that concluded on August 7. The 20-year-old champion finished with 23.5 points, sealing the overall victory one round before the tournament's end in St. Louis, Missouri.

Praggnanandhaa built his triumph by first winning the rapid section with 12 out of a possible 18 points, giving him a one-point lead over Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov. He then maintained his command in the blitz portion, losing only one game across the 18 rounds to finish comfortably ahead of the field. Sindarov placed second with 22 points, while American Grandmaster Wesley So finished third with 20.5 points. The Indian grandmaster did not lose a single game on the final day of competition.

In remarks after his victory, Praggnanandhaa said he was focused on staying calm and was pleased to have won both the rapid and blitz sections separately. He noted that the result gives him positive momentum heading into the next tournament, contrasting with his experience last year. The win also propelled him into the live top 10 of the world rapid...