Praggnanandhaa tops rapid standings at St. Louis, takes one-point lead into blitz

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa finished atop the rapid section of the St. Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament, taking a one-point lead into the 18-round blitz phase and strengthening his bid for a place in this year's Grand Chess Tour Finals.

Praggnanandhaa scored 12 points from a possible 18 across nine rapid rounds, despite losing the final game to Dutch Grandmaster Jorden van Foreest.

The Indian leads Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov on 11 points, while American Grandmaster Wesley So is third with 10. Levon Aronian, Leinier Dominguez Perez, Anish Giri and Vincent Keymer are tied on nine points.

Praggnanandhaa registered four wins, four draws and one defeat in the rapid section. The tournament now moves to the 18-game blitz phase, where each win is worth one point and the overall champion will be decided.

The event, the final Rapid & Blitz stop on this year's Grand Chess Tour, carries a prize purse of USD 200,000, including USD 50,000 for the winner.

The 10-player event will be followed by the Sinquefield Cup, the classical chess leg of the Grand Chess Tour.