Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa made a promising start to his campaign at the Zagreb leg of the Grand Chess Tour, registering an impressive opening-round victory before drawing his next two games to end the first day of the rapid competition in joint second place.
Competing in Zagreb, Croatia, Praggnanandhaa began his campaign in style by defeating Germany’s top seed Vincent Keymer before playing out hard-fought draws against France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and fellow Indian as well as reigning world champion D Gukesh. The results earned the Indian star four points after the opening three rounds.
France’s Alireza Firouzja emerged as the sole leader at the end of the opening day with five points. Firouzja won his first two encounters before settling for a draw against Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri in the third round.
With victories in the rapid format worth two points and draws fetching one point, Firouzja moved one point clear of a chasing pack comprising Praggnanandhaa, Giri, Vachier-Lagrave and Keymer, all of whom finished the day on four points. Keymer recovered impressively after his opening-round defeat by winning his next two games.
Fresh from his triumph at the Norway Chess tournament, where he finished ahead of former world champion Magnus Carlsen, Praggnanandhaa carried his confidence into Zagreb with a sensational attacking display against Keymer.
Playing with the white pieces, the Indian Grandmaster launched a relentless offensive from the opening phase, placing the German under constant pressure. His aggressive play and precise tactical execution left Keymer with little room to respond as Praggnanandhaa converted his advantage in just 26 moves. The one-sided contest showcased the youngster’s attacking flair and is likely to be remembered as one of the standout games of the tournament.
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In the second round, Praggnanandhaa was held to a draw by Vachier-Lagrave, who had begun his own campaign with a well-crafted victory over world champion Gukesh. The encounter remained evenly balanced throughout, with both players displaying accurate calculation and solid defensive play before sharing the point.
He then faced Gukesh in an eagerly awaited all-Indian clash in the third round. Despite several tense moments, neither player was able to gain a decisive advantage, and the game ended in a draw after a closely contested battle, allowing Praggnanandhaa to conclude the day among the tournament’s leading contenders.
For Gukesh, the opening day was a mixed one. The reigning world champion suffered a defeat against Vachier-Lagrave in the first round but responded strongly by defeating Croatia’s Ivan Saric in the second. Demonstrating his trademark composure, Gukesh successfully weathered an attack on his king before turning the tables to claim a convincing victory.
The youngest-ever world chess champion is expected to defend his world title later this year against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov, and his recovery after the opening-round setback highlighted the resilience that has defined his rise to the top.
After three rounds, Gukesh shares sixth place with Romanian Grandmaster Bogdan-Daniel Deac on three points. Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov occupies eighth place with two points, while Dutch Grandmaster Jorden van Foreest has collected one point. Saric remains the only player yet to get off the mark.
The tournament’s rapid section consists of nine rounds before the players shift to an 18-round blitz competition. The overall champion will be determined on the basis of cumulative points earned across both formats, ensuring that consistency throughout the event will be crucial.
Following the conclusion of the Croatia leg, the Grand Chess Tour will move to St. Louis for its remaining two events, where the race for the overall Tour title will continue.
