ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Diya TV) — Indian grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa scored a major win over World Championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov in the second round of the 2026 Sinquefield Cup.
Praggnanandhaa won after a marathon game that lasted nearly six hours and 95 moves. The victory gave him his first win of the tournament. It also moved him into the early title race with 1.5 points from two rounds.
The 20-year-old Indian star started the event with a draw against American grandmaster Sam Sevian. He then faced Sindarov, who challenged for the world championship title. Praggnanandhaa pressed for much of the game and eventually took advantage of a costly mistake by his opponent.
The players reached a rook-and-knight endgame after several exchanges on move 46. Praggnanandhaa had a rook and knight with two pawns, while Sindarov had a rook and knight with one pawn. The complex endgame demanded patience and accuracy from both players.
However, Sindarov made a major mistake on move 82. Praggnanandhaa quickly converted the advantage and secured the win. As a result, he joined a group of five players at the top of the Sinquefield Cup standings with 1.5 points after two rounds.
The second round also produced three other decisive games. Levon Aronian defeated Vincent Keymer, while Maxime Vachier-Lagrave beat Sevian. Wesley So also claimed a victory over Jorden van Foreest.
Praggnanandhaa will next face Keymer in the third round. The game is scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. IST. With five players sharing the lead, the battle at the top remains tight.
The 2026 Sinquefield Cup runs from Aug. 10 through Aug. 19 in St. Louis. The event features 10 elite grandmasters competing across nine rounds of classical chess. It serves as the final regular-season stop of the Grand Chess Tour.
The tournament also offers players one final chance to earn valuable Tour points before the 2026 GCT Grand Finals. Therefore, every result could play an important role in the race for the season-ending championship.
Praggnanandhaa enters the Sinquefield Cup with strong momentum. Earlier this year, he won his first Rapid & Blitz title at the 2026 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz. The event marked the first U.S. leg of the Grand Chess Tour.
Praggnanandhaa dominated the rapid section and scored 12 of a possible 18 points. He then sealed the overall title during the blitz competition. His victory earned him $50,000.
His performance also pushed him into the live top 10 of the world rapid rankings for the first time in his career. Now, his strong start in the Sinquefield Cup has added another major result to his 2026 season.
The win over Sindarov could prove especially important as Praggnanandhaa looks to challenge the strongest players in the field. Moreover, his ability to win a long and difficult endgame showed his patience under pressure.
With seven rounds still to play, the tournament remains wide open. Praggnanandhaa will look to build on his momentum against Keymer in Round 3. Meanwhile, the other leaders will also aim to maintain their position at the top of the standings.
For Praggnanandhaa, the target is clear. Another strong result could strengthen his position in the Sinquefield Cup and boost his chances of earning more Grand Chess Tour points.
