Praggnanandhaa claims first Sinquefield Cup win after 95-move battle

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa registered his first victory of the Sinquefield Cup after outlasting Javokhir Sindarov in a marathon second-round encounter.

Praggnanandhaa dominated the endgame, gradually converting a seemingly drawn position into a winning one after 95 moves.

The Indian produced a tenacious display after Sindarov opted for an equal endgame following a queen-pawn opening. The position appeared headed for a draw, but Praggnanandhaa continued to press and eventually found a way through the Uzbek Grandmaster’s defences.

Sindarov, who is set to face world champion D Gukesh later this year in the battle for the world crown, had appeared to have secured a comfortable position. However, Praggnanandhaa’s persistence eventually paid off as the endgame turned in his favour.

The victory took Praggnanandhaa to 1.5 points from his opening two games.

Overnight leader Fabiano Caruana of the United States was the only other player to finish the day without a decisive result, drawing against Anish Giri of the Netherlands.