Praggnanandhaa Wins Final Games to Join Alireza at Top

Praggnanandhaa won his final three rapid games to finish as joint leader with Firouzja Alireza on 12 points in the Croatia leg of the Grand Chess Tour on 4 July 2026. He defeated Ivan Saric, Deac Bogdan-Daniel, and Anish Giri to draw level with Alireza.

Praggnanandhaa produced his best performance in the last three rounds to catch up with Alireza. He had fallen behind after the second day but managed to win three matches in a row.

Praggnanandhaa's win against Saric was significant, as he used the Caro-Kann Defence to gain an active position from the opening. He then broke through Deac's defence from a Petroff Defence and won a pawn from a Catalan Opening against Giri.

The standings after the rapid section show Praggnanandhaa and Alireza tied at 12 points, followed by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Nodirbek Abdusattorov at 11 points. D Gukesh and Vincent Keymer are close behind with 10 points each.

The blitz section of the tournament will feature 18 rounds, and Praggnanandhaa will look to maintain his position at the top. Gukesh, who drew all three games on the final day, will aim to catch up with the leaders.

Praggnanandhaa's performance on the final day was impressive, as he outplayed Giri in just 34 moves. He won a pawn from a Catalan Opening and finished the game efficiently with fine tactical manoeuvres.

The Croatia leg of the Grand Chess Tour has seen intense competition, with several players still in contention for the top spot. Praggnanandhaa's joint leadership with Alireza sets up an exciting blitz section.

The tournament will continue with the blitz section, featuring 18 rounds of rapid-paced chess. Praggnanandhaa and Alireza will look to maintain their lead, while Gukesh and other players will aim to catch up.

Praggnanandhaa's win against Deac was significant, as he broke through the Romanian's defence from a Petroff Defence. He then won a piece and never looked back, securing a crucial victory.

The final day of the rapid section saw several exciting matches, with Praggnanandhaa's wins being the highlight. He will look to carry his momentum into the blitz section and maintain his position at the top.

The standings after the rapid section are tightly packed, with several players still in contention for the top spot. Praggnanandhaa and Alireza will look to maintain their lead, while Gukesh and other players will aim to catch up.

Praggnanandhaa's performance in the Croatia leg of the Grand Chess Tour has been impressive, with his final three wins securing his joint leadership with Alireza. He will look to continue his strong form in the blitz section.