Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has added another major title to his growing list of achievements by winning the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz 2026. The 20-year-old remained on top throughout the five-day competition and sealed the championship with one round to spare.
Praggnanandhaa finished with 23.5 points out of 36, combining 12 points from the rapid section with 11.5 in blitz. Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov finished second with 22 points, while American Grandmaster Wesley So took third place with 20.5.
Title Secured Against Sindarov
The decisive moment came in the penultimate round when Praggnanandhaa faced his closest challenger, Sindarov.
The Indian needed only a draw to secure the title. Despite Sindarov holding an extra pawn in a rook-and-knight ending, Praggnanandhaa defended accurately and earned the crucial half-point.
That result confirmed his first Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz title before the final round. He later drew with Levon Aronian to complete the tournament.
Led From Start to Finish
Praggnanandhaa took the lead on the opening day of the rapid competition and never surrendered it. Across the entire tournament, he lost only two of his 27 games.
He also produced the best individual score in both the rapid and blitz sections, underlining his consistency across the two formats.
The victory earned Praggnanandhaa $50,000 in prize money and 13 Grand Chess Tour points. More importantly, it lifted him to second place in the overall GCT standings, behind Fabiano Caruana.
The triumph also continues a strong run for the Indian star in 2026. With the Sinquefield Cup next on the Grand Chess Tour calendar, Praggnanandhaa will now look to carry his winning momentum into another elite event.
