Grand Chess Tour, Poland Rapid: Praggnanandhaa claims win in opening round
Indian Grand Master R Praggnanandhaa claimed a clinical win against Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the opening round of the Poland Rapid leg of the Grand Chess Tour.
Wielding the black pieces, Praggnanandhaa navigated through a Closed Sicilian Defense opening pattern, before gaining control in the middle phase.
An error from Vachier-Lagrave in the 29th and 31st moves shifted the game into the Indian’s corner. Praggnanandhaa held onto the advantage, forcing his opponent to resign after the 45th move.
David Gavrilescu was the only other player to earn a win on the opening day, with the Romanian triumphing over Bulgaria’s Veselin Topalov.
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Aravindh Chithambaram, the other Indian in the fray, played out a draw with Romania’s Bogdan-Daniel Deac.
On Sunday, Chithambaram will square up against Praggnanandhaa, with the latter playing with the white pieces.