Pragg and Caruana continue to share the lead
The eighth and penultimate round of the Sinquefield Cup produced one decisive game, which did not alter the picture at the top of the standings.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov finally managed to record his first win of the tournament, beating Alireza Firouzja with the white pieces. Firouzja, who had lost to Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu the previous day, needed a victory to keep alive his chances of qualifying for the Grand Chess Tour Finals in São Paulo. Instead, the defeat ended those hopes, as his subpar showing in Saint Louis, combined with Pragg’s excellent run, left him mathematically eliminated.
The remaining games were drawn, though several provided considerable drama. Going into the last round, Caruana and Pragg remain tied in first place with 5 points, while Aronian and So are half a point behind on 4½.
Round 8 results
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Fabiano Caruana | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Abdusattorov’s win came after what he himself described as the most difficult tournament of his career. Prior to this round, he had lost four games and drawn three, leaving him in the last place of the standings.
Facing Firouzja, he turned down an early chance to take a draw by repetition, explaining afterwards that making quick draws is just not in his nature. His persistence was soon rewarded when Firouzja blundered with 21…Nd7, a serious error compared with the correct 21…Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Bc8. The mistake left Black’s pieces clumsy and his bishop and knight running out of squares.
Abdusattorov immediately exploited the chance: 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.g4 Be6 24.h4 Bb3 (diagram) 25.hxg5 Bxd1 26.Rxd1 gave White two minor pieces against a rook, an objectively favourable imbalance.
Converting was not entirely smooth, but Firouzja made matters worse later by sacrificing his rook for a bishop, apparently assuming that the resulting endgame was drawn. Abdusattorov calmly demonstrated, finally putting a full point on the board. Find below analysis of the endgame provided by our in-house expert GM Karsten Müller.
Abdusattorov 1-0 Firouzja
Analysis by GM Karsten Müller
Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Alireza Firouzja | Photo: Lennart Ootes
The round also saw a remarkable battle between world champion Gukesh Dommaraju and Levon Aronian. Gukesh employed a rather offbeat opening system, which surprised his opponent and gave him an early advantage. Aronian soon found himself defending an uncomfortable position, while Gukesh appeared to be playing a model strategic game.
Yet, at a critical point in the middlegame, Gukesh chose 24.e4 instead of the stronger 24.f4, allowing Aronian to regroup and eventually equalise.
The game evolved into a tense ending in which Gukesh had the exchange for two pawns. The balance seemed restored, but a further twist came when Gukesh blundered with 68.Bf2. Both 68.Bg3 and 68.Kc7 would have kept matters level, but after the move chosen, Aronian had a clear win with 68…Kg4, activating his king to escort the passed h-pawn down the board.
After 68…Kg4, Black’s win is rather straightforward – e.g. 69.Kb7 h4 70.a8Q Rxa8 71.Kxa8 h3 72.Bg1 Kg3 73.Kb7 Kg2 (diagram) and Black wins. Even if White gives up the bishop earlier in the line, Black will get an easily winning pawn endgame with his better positioned king.
Commentator Peter Svidler was visibly astonished when Aronian instead played 68…Ra8, foregoing the chance and forcing a draw. After such prolonged defence, it was perhaps natural for Aronian to prefer the certainty of half a point.
Fully focused – Gukesh Dommaraju and Levon Aronian | Photo: Lennart Ootes
The two leaders of the tournament, Caruana and Praggnanandhaa, both drew their games. Caruana’s clash with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave was a balanced affair which featured a long theoretical opening variation, while Pragg split the point with Wesley So. Both players stand on 5 points, with Aronian and So just behind on 4½.
Reflecting on his own chances, Pragg noted after the round that he has been performing well in playoffs this year, referring among others to his success at the Superbet Chess Classic where he outscored MVL and Firouzja in rapid tiebreaks. Should the Sinquefield Cup also end in a tie, that recent record may give him confidence going into a potential playoff.
As for the GCT standings, the outcome of this tournament is especially significant. MVL has already guaranteed his place in the Finals, while Caruana, Pragg and Aronian are the frontrunners to take the other three spots. Wesley So still has a mathematical chance of overtaking one of them, but it would require both favourable results elsewhere and success in his own final game. Firouzja, on the other hand, is officially out of contention.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave already secured a spot in the GCT Finals | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Good old friends | Photo: Lennart Ootes
