The Sinquefield Cup 2025 in Saint Louis has become a tense affair, with all five clashes in Round 6 ending in draws for the second straight day. While the scoreboard remains tight, the tournament is delicately poised, with Fabiano Caruana leading the race but India’s young stars R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh still firmly in contention — both for the title and a coveted spot in the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) Finals.
Caruana Maintains Narrow Lead
With six rounds completed, Fabiano Caruana tops the table on 4 points, thanks to earlier wins against Alireza Firouzja and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
Just behind him, on 3.5 points each, are R Praggnanandhaa and Levon Aronian, both of whom began the event with strong wins before settling into a series of draws.
Meanwhile, world champion D Gukesh remains in eighth place with 3 points, but the standings are so compressed that he is only one point off the lead.
Round 6 Highlights
Praggnanandhaa vs Duda – Missed Chance in Sicilian Alapin
Playing White against Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Praggnanandhaa gained a small edge from a Sicilian Alapin. By move 16, the engines heavily favored him, but after castling queenside (18. 0-0-0) and leaving his e-pawn undefended, the advantage slipped away.
Duda seized his chance with a rook sacrifice, forcing Pragg to respond sharply. Eventually, the Indian forced a perpetual check, ending the contest without a decisive result.
Gukesh vs Firouzja – Survival Under Extreme Pressure
In the Sicilian Najdorf, Gukesh looked dominant early on, gaining both positional edge and a 45-minute time advantage. However, Firouzja counterpunched brilliantly, leveling the position.
The French-Iranian star pressed hard, even gaining a pawn in a bishop-vs-knight ending, but Gukesh showcased extraordinary defense. At one point, he played a move with just two seconds on the clock before the increment saved him. Ultimately, the world champion held his nerve to secure a half-point.
Other Boards
The remaining matches also ended peacefully, meaning no shifts at the very top of the leaderboard.
Current Standings (After 6 Rounds)
The Grand Chess Tour Equatio
With the GCT Finals in Brazil (Sept 26 – Oct 4) looming, every point is crucial. Only four players qualify, and the Sinquefield Cup is the final chance to secure a spot.
- Praggnanandhaa (20 pts, 5th place overall)
- Can qualify by finishing ahead of Caruana in Saint Louis.
- If Caruana stays ahead, Pragg must outscore Firouzja by 2.5 points or Aronian by 3.5 points.
- Gukesh (16 pts, 8th overall)
- Needs an outright Sinquefield Cup victory (worth 13 pts).
- That would take him to 29 points, giving him a real shot if at least two of Aronian, Firouzja, or Caruana underperform.
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave already looks safe for qualification with 28 points from earlier events.
What’s Next?
The Sinquefield Cup is living up to its reputation as one of the most prestigious and unpredictable chess tournaments in the world. With four rounds left, a single decisive game could dramatically shift both the tournament standings and the GCT Finals qualification race.
For India, the spotlight remains firmly on Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh. Both teenagers have already proven they belong among the elite — now the question is whether one of them can land a decisive blow and punch their ticket to Brazil.
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