World Champion D. Gukesh surpassed his initial disappointment to ensure an excellent victory against the former Rapid Rapid Champion Abdusattor of Uzbekistan in the second round of Sinquefield Cup.
On the day R Pragggnanandhaa played a silent game he could draw with Fabian Caruana in the United States, Alireza Firouzja from France gave the perfect demonstration of the end game and broke the defense of Jan-Krzysztof Duda from Poland on another decisive game of the day.
Levon Aronian from the United States drew Samuel Sevian to maintain ahead, while another American, Wesley So, drew with Maxima Vachier-Lagrave from France at 10 players with prices of $ 375,000.
He still comes with seven wheels, Pragggnanandhaa, Aronian and Firouzja share the lead to 1.5 points. Gukesh moved to the fourth place next to Caruan, Wesley So, Sevian and Vachier-Lagrave. Duda ranks ninth in half a point, while Abdusattor still has to open his account after suffering his second consecutive defeat.
Gukesh faced the open Sicilian, popularized legendary Viktor Korchnoi in the last century. Many of the best players, including Caruana, have used this option, although it is less popular among the elite today.
Gukesh chose one of the most challenging lines and accepted the theory of the mainstream. Abdusattorov secured an expired pawn on Wednesday, supported by another pawn, but his king remained vulnerable under Gukesh’s imaginative maneuvers.
The Indian ace transformed the advantage of the end game for Knight, and although Counterplay persisted for Uzbek, the clock pressure made it difficult to find accurate movements. Gukesh sealed victory with timely stock exchanges, resulting in a winning end game.
Pragggnanandhaa decided to variate Rossolimo, Line Caruana was often used in her World Cup match against Magnus Carlsen, whose aim was to upset her opponent. However, the American showed a solid understanding of the structures of the infantry in the resulting middle game. Some exchanges directed the game to the draw in the next Rook-and-Minor-Piece end game.
Firouzja showed his bravery of the end games with Bishop and knight versus the lonely king and flawlessly did it.
Results of round 2:
1.5) (IS, 1);
Alireza Firouzja (FRA, 1,5) defeated Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Pol, 0,5);
Levon Aronian (USA, 1.5) Drew with Samuel Sevian (USA, 1);
Wesley SO (USA, 1) DREW with maximum ator-lagrave (FRA, 1);
D Gukesh (Ind) was defeated by Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB).
Grandmaster R Pragggnanandhaa played World Champion D Gukesh in the opening round of Sinquefield Cup to get third in the Live World ranking. He now shares leadership with tireless Levon Aronian in the United States, which after Monday’s opening round Nodirbek Abdusattor of Uzbekistan overcame. In the other games of the first round Fabiano Caruana from the USA drew with Jan-Krzysztof Duda from Poland, the surrogate coat of arms Samuel Sevian divided the point with the countryman Wesley SO and Maxure Vachier-Lagrave from France drew with his colleagues Frenchman Alireza Firouzja.
With the remaining eight rounds at $ 350,000, six players share the third place for Pragggnanandha and Aronian, while Gukesh and Abdusattorov lie on the bottom and hope to open their accounts next round. Pragggnanandhaa faced the royal gambit accepted when Gukesh played Black.
The solid approach came under early check when Gukesh spent considerable time in a familiar position and accepted a dubious arrangement involving the early exchange of the queen. Pragggnanandhaa’s episcopal couple and the advantage of playing White gave him a clear advantage. Gukesh added to his misery and was forced to find difficult movements to remain competitive. As always, Pragnanandhaa did not allow the position to slip, won the pawn by force, and wrapped the game after only 36 movements. “I really don’t know what happened today. I think he was a little gone,” Pragggnanandhaa said after the game.
By the way, with this victory, Pragggnanandhaa also restored parity with Gukshe in a classic chess, both of which now had three wins. “Last year I spoiled him some good positions against him. I think I have not defeated him for almost two years (in classic), so it is finally good to win victory,” Pragggnanandhaa said. Aronian quickly found Counterplay as soon as Nodirbek ran out after a long -term attack on Black King. The Uzbek Grand Master had a white and slightly favorable position, but the American held a firm with good resources. The game is heading for a draw, but Abdusattor’s mistake and lost badly.
Results round 1:
r Pragggnanandhaa (Ind) defeated D Gukesh (Ind);
Fabiano Caruana (USA) Drew with Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Pol);
Samuel Sevian (USA) Drew with Wesley So (USA);
Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) lost with leost Aronian (USA);
Maxima Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) stretched with Alireza Firouzja (FRA).
Inputs from PTI
– ends
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
August 20, 2025
