GCT Finals SF Game 1: Praggnanandhaa Starts With a Draw
GM R Praggnanandhaa had a shaky start in the first semifinal game of the Grand Chess Tour 2025 Finals. The World No. 4 made an inaccuracy in a rook and pawn endgame. This gave GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) an advantage.
Praggnanandhaa tried to seize the opportunity but could not convert it into a win. He managed to escape with a draw. Both players earned three points each.
GM Fabiano Caruana (USA) and GM Levon Aronian (USA) also played a calm game. Their match ended in a draw, giving each player three points.
The second semifinal game will start today at 3 p.m. local time (11:30 p.m. IST).
Praggnanandhaa vs Vachier-Lagrave: A Tough Battle
Before this game, Praggnanandhaa had played six classical-rated games against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. He lost once, and the other five ended in draws.
The seventh game was going well for Praggnanandhaa until he made a key inaccuracy in the rook endgame. After the move 49.g4, White was already in trouble. A winning sequence was missed by Black, allowing Praggnanandhaa to hold a draw.
Even though it was a tough endgame, Praggnanandhaa showed great resilience.
Caruana vs Aronian: Smooth Draw
GM Fabiano Caruana and GM Levon Aronian had a balanced game. Both players handled the position carefully. The game ended in a draw, adding three points to each player.
Memorable Moments
Fans enjoyed seeing top players like MVL and Aronian interact with spectators.
Tournament Details
Dates: 28th September – 3rd October 2025
Location: World Trade Center, São Paulo, Brazil
Rounds: Each match includes two classical, two rapid, and four blitz games.
Time Controls:
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Classical: 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30-second increment
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Rapid: 25 minutes + 10-second increment
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Blitz: 5 minutes + 2-second increment
Scoring:
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Classical: Win = 6, Draw = 3, Loss = 0
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Rapid: Win = 4, Draw = 2, Loss = 0
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Blitz: Win = 2, Draw = 1, Loss = 0
A player needs at least 15 points to win the match.
Prize Fund: Total $350,000
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1st: $150,000
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2nd: $100,000
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3rd: $60,000
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4th: $40,000
Photos: Lennart Ootes
Source: CHESSBASE
