Praggnanandhaa Wins Big in Romania, Gukesh Finishes 6th in Major Chess Tournament

May 16, 2025 — A Double Victory for Indian Sports

As Neeraj Chopra launched his javelin past the elusive 90-metre mark in Doha, another Indian prodigy was making history over 4,000 kilometres away in Bucharest. Chess Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has claimed his maiden Grand Chess Tour title, emerging victorious at the Chess Classic Romania 2025 — a career-defining moment for the 19-year-old sensation from Chennai.

The Final Standings: An Intense Face-Off

The prestigious tournament culminated in a dramatic three-way tie, with Praggnanandhaa sharing the top spot with French heavyweights Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Each of the grandmasters scored 5.5 points after 10 intense classical rounds, setting the stage for a nail-biting playoff.

Blitz Playoffs: Where Seconds Matter

To break the tie, a set of blitz games was played among the top three. Here’s how the showdown unfolded:

Tiebreak 1: Firouzja vs. Praggnanandhaa – a tightly fought draw, with both earning 0.5 points.

Tiebreak 2: Firouzja vs. Vachier-Lagrave – again, a deadlock and 0.5 points each.

Tiebreak 3: The decider — Praggnanandhaa unleashed a dazzling 16-second win over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, clinching a full point and the championship title.

Winnings and Rankings

With this electrifying win, Praggnanandhaa takes home a prize of $77,667 (approx. ₹66.48 lakhs) and earns 10 GCT points, significantly boosting his standing on the 2025 Grand Chess Tour leaderboard.

In a post-match statement shared on social media, the young chess maestro expressed joy and gratitude, calling the victory “unreal and unforgettable.”

What’s Next on the Grand Chess Tour?

Having secured a third-place finish at the Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland last month and now winning in Romania, Praggnanandhaa is fast becoming the one to watch. The Grand Chess Tour now moves to Zagreb, Croatia, for the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia, promising more high-stakes action.

Table of Contents

May 16, 2025 — A Double Victory for Indian Sports

The Final Standings: An Intense Face-Off

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Blitz Playoffs: Where Seconds Matter

To break the tie, a set of blitz games was played among the top three. Here’s how the showdown unfolded:

Tiebreak 1: Firouzja vs. Praggnanandhaa – a tightly fought draw, with both earning 0.5 points.
Tiebreak 2: Firouzja vs. Vachier-Lagrave – again, a deadlock and 0.5 points each.
Tiebreak 3: The decider — Praggnanandhaa unleashed a dazzling 16-second win over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, clinching a full point and the championship title.

Winnings and Rankings

In a post-match statement shared on social media, the young chess maestro expressed joy and gratitude, calling the victory “unreal and unforgettable.”

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Gukesh’s Performance: A Modest Finish for the Champion

Current World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, who entered the tournament as the top seed, finished joint-sixth. While not his strongest outing, he still walked away with $17,125 (approx. ₹14.65 lakhs) and 3.5 GCT Points, keeping him firmly in the running for the rest of the tour.