Sinquefield Cup: Gukesh holds Caruana as leader Firouzja beats Liren

Saint Louis (USA), August 27

Grandmaster D Gukesh played out a hard fought draw yet again, signing peace with top seed and local favourite Fabiano Caruana, while Frenchman Alireza Firouzja stretched his lead to a full point after the seventh round of Sinquefield Cup, which is a part of the Grand Chess Tour. R Praggnanandhaa drew his seventh game on the trot to remain on a fifty per cent score. Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia was happy with a quick draw as Praggnanandhaa decided to save his energy.

With just two rounds to come, Firouzja, who put it across world champion Ding Liren of China, has five points in his kitty and Caruana continues to trail him a full point behind. Wesley So of United States, Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa share the third spot on 3.5 points each. A half-point behind are Liren and Nepomniachtchi, while Dutchman Anish Giri is still at the bottom of the table on 2.5 points. Besides Firouzja’s victory, Abdusattorov halted So’s party with a clinical performance. In the other game of the day, Vachier-Lagrave drew with Giri.