Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Praggnanandhaa Nears Grand Chess Tour Final Amid Reports
R Praggnanandhaa played Vincent Keymer in a major chess event in St. Louis.
Several reports say Praggnanandhaa won their second classical semifinal game by a score of 9-3.
Keymer had the better position early, but Praggnanandhaa later found a strong tactic.
Keymer resigned on the 55th move.
Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So drew their own game after Caruana lost a strong advantage.
The tournament has rapid and blitz games after the classical games.
A player needs 15 points to reach the final, according to the reports.
Another report describes a later grand-final game between Praggnanandhaa and Keymer as a draw.
Therefore, the supplied reports do not fully agree about which stage of the tournament the players had reached.
R Praggnanandhaa defeated Vincent Keymer 9-3 in the reported second classical semifinal game.
Keymer resigned on move 55 after a tactical exchange and time-pressure struggle.
Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So drew after Caruana reportedly let a winning position slip.
The event offers a $200,000 winner’s prize from a total $450,000 purse.
Reports differ on the event stage: one later account describes Praggnanandhaa and Keymer drawing their first grand-final game.
- Who
- R Praggnanandhaa, Vincent Keymer, Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So.
- What
- Reports say Praggnanandhaa defeated Keymer 9-3 in a classical semifinal game, while Caruana and So drew; a later report says Praggnanandhaa and Keymer drew their first grand-final game.
- When
- During the reported second round of classical games and, in the later account, the first game of the grand finale.
- Where
- St. Louis, United States.
- Why
- The players are competing for qualification, prize money and direct invitations to the following year’s Grand Chess Tour.
Earlier semifinal reports
Later grand-finale report
Tournament stage
Earlier semifinal reports
Three supplied reports describe Praggnanandhaa’s 9-3 win over Keymer as the second classical game of a semifinal.
Later grand-finale report
A later supplied report describes Praggnanandhaa and Keymer as having reached the grand finale, where their first game ended in a draw.
Praggnanandhaa-Keymer result
Earlier semifinal reports
Praggnanandhaa won 9-3, leaving him six points from the stated 15-point qualification mark.
Later grand-finale report
Praggnanandhaa came close to winning but drew after making a mistake in a nearly winning endgame.
- Reported semifinal result
- R Praggnanandhaa beat Vincent Keymer 9-3; Fabiano Caruana drew with Wesley So.
- Praggnanandhaa-Keymer game
- Keymer resigned on move 55 after a tactical and time-pressure battle.
- Qualification threshold
- Players reportedly need 15 points to qualify for the final.
- Tournament purse
- The event offers a total prize fund of $450,000.
- Winner’s prize
- The winner receives $200,000.
- Other prizes
- The reported payouts are $125,000 for second, $75,000 for third and $50,000 for fourth.
- Format
- Reports describe two classical games followed by two rapid and four blitz games.
- Reported discrepancy
- One later article says Praggnanandhaa and Keymer drew their first grand-final game, conflicting with the semifinal framing in the other reports.
Sources
GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa Beats Keymer to Stake His Claim for Finals
GCT Grand Finale: Pragg lets Keymer off the hook
R Praggnanandhaa Crushes Vincent Keymer 9-3 To Storm Within Six Points Of Grand Chess Tour Final As $200,000 Winner’s Prize Beckons | Video
