GM Fabiano Caruana continues to lead the 2025 Sinquefield Cup after, for the first time this year, a round of all draws. GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda came closest to winning against World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, finding a brilliant line but missing the beautiful 27.Bg2!! to cap it off.
We saw draws in Caruana vs. GM Wesley So, GM Alireza Firouzja vs. GM Levon Aronian, GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, and GM Sam Sevian vs. GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov,
After a rest day, round six is on Sunday, August 24, starting at 1:30 p.m. ET / 19:30 CEST / 11 p.m. IST.
Standings After Round 5
The following graphic illustrates the goals for the four players who can guarantee their spots in the Finals. While they can still qualify with a lesser result, the following finishes would guarantee it:
Caruana ½-½ So
Caruana, the tournament leader, didn’t get much with the white pieces against So in a Symmetrical English. He himself said, “The game was just very boring.” He was surprised by the Symmetrical English by his opponent, and neither player assumed any significant risk.
With that, Caruana enters the rest day still in the sole lead. If he pulls it off for another four rounds, he will make it to Sao Paulo.
Vachier-Lagrave ½-½ Praggnanandhaa
It wasn’t a boring draw, but it was a peaceful result nevertheless. Praggnanandhaa defended adequately in the Rossolimo Sicilian, and although the computer shows no real advantage for either side, he was hopeful at one point, saying, “This line you shouldn’t get any chances with Black but suddenly I got optimistic after 18.dxc4 Nd6.” After 21.h4, however, he realized he had no advantage.
Praggnanandhaa won in round one against Gukesh but has drawn the four games since. He said calmly, “I didn’t really get any chances after day one, so I can’t really be unhappy.”
Firouzja ½-½ Aronian
Aronian, who struggled in the French Defense with Black in the previous round against Vachier-Lagrave, made up for it in this game. Firouzja tested him in a long, sharp line where he sacrificed two pawns for an attack. But Aronian knew every move, and they reached a forced draw by repetition on move 25 less than an hour after starting to play.
“It’s just ridiculous. he remembered everything,” said Firouzja. He said that if he saw Aronian’s 12…b6! in his preparation—a move Sevian had played in the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz last year—he would not have gone for this line. He had only seen it 10 minutes before entering the playing hall and had to figure out the rest over the board.
“That’s modern chess” was a statement repeated by Firouzja, all the commentators, and GM Garry Kasparov who joined the commentary. “It’s definitely far superior than the preparation we had 25-30 years ago,” said the former world champion.
Duda ½-½ Gukesh
This was our most tumultuous game and both players could have left the venue thinking they missed a chance. By 11…h5, Gukesh was already the one pressing with the black pieces. But he said, “From the opening I guess I should just be better, but it got too crazy at some point.”
The mind-numbing complications started after 20.gxh4 and both players started to make mistakes. It was Gukesh who made a losing one, however. Duda found two brilliant moves, 24.b5!!, leaving his rook hanging, followed by 25.Qa2!!, a quiet move that leaves his rook hanging again. 27.Bg2!! was the last one had to find, but when he failed the players navigated their way through the complex endgame to a draw.
GM Rafael Leitao reviews Caruana’s second win, our Game of the Day, below.
Gukesh said, “I can’t say happy, but 50 percent is a decent score. I just hope to get some wins in the second half.”
Sevian ½-½ Abdusattorov
Sevian is in the middle of the pack after five draws and zero losses, as the lowest seed. In this game (the first time an Italian has been played in the five rounds!), he was the one pressing for an advantage in a two-results type of style. Although the engine points out ways he could have played a bit more accurately to hold an advantage, we probably cannot say that a large chance was missed.
After a rest day, we will see Caruana with the black pieces against the so far indestructible Sevian. Gukesh vs. Firouzja also promises to be a fascinating battle from two players who refuse to back down from one.
Round 6 Pairings
The 2025 Sinquefield Cup, taking place from August 18 to 28 in St. Louis, is the last leg and final classical event before the Final of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour. It is a single round-robin with 10 players with a time control of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus a 30-second increment starting on move one. It features a $350,000 prize fund.
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