Sinquefield Cup 2024: Undefeated Firozja wins the Sinquefield Cup and prize money of 100,000 USD
GM Alireza Firouzja was crowned winner of the 2024 Sinquefield Cup and Grand Chess Tour on Wednesday after fighting to a draw with GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and finishing with 6/9. After losing in the first round to the winner, GM Fabiano Caruana fought back to second place and crowned the event with a clear victory over GM Anish Giri.
The world champion and his recent challenger, grandmasters Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi, were defeated by grandmasters Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave respectively.
Results of the 9th round
| White | Black | |
| Firouzja | 1/2-1/2 | Praggnanandhaa |
| Caruana | 1:0 | Giri |
| Vachier-Lagrave | 1:0 | thing |
| Abdusattorov | 1:0 | Nepomnyachtchi |
| Gukesh | 1/2-1/2 | So |
Final score/Prize money
| Rank | Lined | name | Score | Price |
| 1 | Alireza Firouzja | 6 | 100,000 US dollars | |
| 2 | Fabiano Caruana | 5.5 | 65,000 US dollars | |
| T-3 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 5 | 40,000 US dollars | |
| T-3 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 5 | 40,000 US dollars | |
| T-5 | Wesley So | 4.5 | $21,833 | |
| T-5 | Ramesh Babu Praggnanandhaa | 4.5 | $21,833 | |
| T-5 | Gukesh Dommaraju | 4.5 | $21,833 | |
| T-8 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 3.5 | 14,500 US dollars | |
| T-8 | Ding Liren | 3.5 | 14,500 US dollars | |
| 10 | Anish Giri | 3 | 10,500 US dollars |
Firouzja 1/2-1/2 Praggnanandhaa
Safety was Firouzja’s top priority in the ninth round as he sought to win the coveted Sinquefield Cup, and with Caruana breathing down his neck, this was a sensible strategy.
The opening in Firouzja-Praggnanandhaa was the French Defence: MacCutcheon Variation and the game became a victory lap for the world number five after he had exchanged queens on move 20. However, the French representative had to survive a brilliant performance, 25…Rb8!! before his opponent was willing to accept a draw.
In a turbulent 2023, Firouzja’s ranking slipped from 2785 to 2737, and many assumed his foray into fashion was the cause. But the 21-year-old defied the naysayers and joined an illustrious group of five GMs who have won the Sinquefield Cup two or more times.
After a traditional photo shoot in front of the Chess Hall of Fame, Firouzja took to Twitter and posted a photo with the simple caption: “Sometimes I scare myself.”
Sometimes I scare myself pic.twitter.com/ket5iC9Sev
— Alireza Firouzja (@AlirezaFirouzja) 28 August 2024
For his efforts, Firouzja will receive a whopping first prize of $100,000, bringing his total winnings from the 2024 Grand Chess Tour to $323,750. Speaking to commentator and GM Cristian Chirila, Firouzja spoke about how happy he was to win the tour, which he described as the “most difficult” prize in chess, for the second time.
Caruana 1-0 Giri
If there is one player who knows how to play to win in Saint Louis, it is Caruana, and he was hoping to recreate his 2014 self to catch Firouzja if he falters. Caruana played the rare 6.d3 in the English Opening: Neo-Catalan Defense declined and found all the right moves to defeat Giri, who scored a lackluster 3/9 in the event.
Our Game of the Day, which provided educational moments for players of all levels, will be analyzed by GM Rafael Leitao and added shortly.
Vachier-Lagrave 1-0 Ding
Hidden in a corner of the playing room of the St. Louis Chess Club were Vachier-Lagrave and Ding. The former spent four hours clearly outplaying the world champion in a Spanish game with the white side.
At the end of the tournament, Ding could have used a confidence boost, but when he saw the unsightly 20…Kf8?It became clear that Ding had not yet found his rhythm.
Abdusattorov 1-0 Nepomniachtchi
With a loss to Caruana in the third round, Abdusattorov’s hopes of winning the 2024 Sinquefield Cup were virtually dashed. However, the world number six responded strongly, taking wins in rounds seven and nine to secure joint third place.
Abdusattorov played the Slav Defense: Modern Quiet Variation against Nepomniachtchi on the white side, feigning a weakness in his kingside pawn structure and inciting Black to grab his h-pawn.
Nepomniachtchi was obviously beside himself, rushed through the game and finally threw in the towel on move 27, with over an hour left on the clock.
Abdusattorov’s result bodes well for Uzbekistan ahead of the 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad, where he will play for his country at first board to defend his title. Only five countries have managed to do so so far: Hungary, the United States, the Soviet Union, Russia and Armenia (most recently in 2005-06).
Gukesh 1/2-1/2 Sun
GM Gukesh Dommaraju has earned a reputation for being mature beyond his years, and bookmakers and pundits have named him the clear favourite to face an out-of-form Ding in the World Championship. However, after nine draws in the Sinquefield Cup, Gukesh raises the question of whether the pressure is getting to him.
In his final round against GM Wesley So, Gukesh showed signs of good form and was the epitome of solidity, a necessary trait for a successful World Championship contender.
Speaking to the Indian Express on the eve of the ninth round, Giri said of the Indian superstar: “Gukesh has seemed extremely tense and extremely concentrated for many months. Hyperfocused! I was also at that stage as a child. But I felt that this hyperfocus was too much.”
#Chess #AnishGiri #SinquefieldCup
World Chess Championship: Gukesh seems tense but highly concentrated, Ding Liren nervous, says Grandmaster Anish Giri in an interview with @jestalt https://t.co/tgeXr1uYSx
— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) 28 August 2024
Only time will tell if Gukesh will achieve the goal he set for himself at the age of 11: to not only become world champion, but to become “the youngest world champion”.
Grand Chess Tour Ranking
Final score of #SinquefieldCup and the #GrandChessTour! pic.twitter.com/DhXJD5Rvfz
— Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) 28 August 2024
The 2024 Sinquefield Cup is the final leg and final classical event of the 2024 Grand Chess Tour. Ten players will compete in a classical single round robin tournament for their share of $350,000 in prize money.
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