Firouzja Bests Caruana, Gains Sole Lead

GM Alireza Firouzja gained the sole lead at the 2024 Sinquefield Cup by defeating GM Fabiano Caruana in round one. 

GM Ding Liren hinted at attacking intentions vs. GM Gukesh Dommaraju. Yet, when the 18-year-old challenger created counterplay, the world champion opted for a perpetual check. 

The Sinquefield Cup will continue with round two on Tuesday, August 20, at 2 p.m. ET / 20:00 CEST / 11:30 p.m. IST.

Standings After Round 1

The Grand Chess Tour now all comes down to the Sinquefield Cup. Day one featured two of the most anticipated duels: Gukesh and Ding faced off for the first time since the Indian prodigy became the youngest challenger in history. Meanwhile, Caruana and Firouzja went all-out for victory as the Grand Chess Tour crown hangs in the balance. 

Caruana vs. Firozuja: 0-1

Wanting to maximize his chances against his GCT rival, Caruana prepared a potent sacrifice of a center pawn in the opening. GM Christian Chirila shared his insights:

Before the last day of blitz chess at the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, I was talking with Fabiano’s second for this tournament, Grigory Oparin. I asked him how the preparation was going for the blitz and rapid. He said, ‘For the last few days, we’ve been training for this game against Alireza.' So, this game has been brewing for the last few days, maybe even a week.

Firouzja responded with fearless play, accepting the sacrifice and trusting his own evaluation despite knowing that his opponent had to be deep within his prep. At a key moment, Caruana had a unique opportunity to test Firouzja's defensive abilities.

The players fought on to a tense equality. Though they each tested the waters with some repeating moves, Caruana kept pressing for the win. Firouzja shared his perspective on his opponent's approach: “He was working on my time, which was a very good strategy. He was playing nonsense moves, but he was making me think.”

He was playing nonsense moves, but he was making me think.

―Alireza Firouzja

When the players reached a time scramble, Firouzja was both behind on the clock and defending on the board. He marched his king away from the enemy queen to the queenside. In the critical moment, the GCT leader out-calculated Caruana. When the smoke cleared, Firouzja was ahead connected passers while his opponent only had spite checks to try to slow down White’s progress. 

Just when the game seemed to be over, the 21-year-old grandmaster allowed Caruana back into the game, but the world number-three missed his chance. He instantly traded into a lost queen ending, and Firouzja took it home with no more surprises from there.  

This absorbing battle between the top two is our Game of the Day. Analysis by GM Rafael Leitao is below.

Ding vs. Gukesh: 1/2-1/2

With a simple rook lift, Ding announced his intentions for a kingside attack, and the game looked to be heating up. Gukesh responded actively. When the world champion made a logical yet inaccurate move, the challenger was able to create an advanced protected passed pawn. This powerful pawn ensured him enough counterplay against White's attacking attempts. Realizing this, Ding bailed out, giving up his bishop and rook to create a perpetual check. 

Praggnanandhaa vs. Abdusattorov: 1/2-1/2

In the early middlegame, GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu had chances to use his kingside pressure to reach a superior endgame vs. fellow prodigy, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov. When the Indian grandmaster hallucinated that he would be down a pawn in the resulting position, he rejected the critical line. Though he continued to press, Abdusattorov defended with precision, leading to an even double rook ending.  

Nepomniachtchi vs. Vachier-Lagrave: 1/2-1/2

GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is known for his devotion to the Sicilian Najdorf. So, when the French grandmaster played 1...e5, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi tested his opponent's knowledge of the Scotch Gambit. Though Vachier-Lagrave seemed to hold the balance with ease, he later revealed:

It can never be easy when you play this sort of line for the first time in your life. I decided to surprise Ian, and it's always good to add new options for opponents.

It can never be easy when you play this sort of line for the first time in your life. 

―Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

So vs. Giri: 1/2-1/2

GM Wesley So surprised GM Anish Giri with the Benoni, yet the Dutch grandmaster was able to gain a comfortable position. He shared:

He played the Benoni, which is quite remarkable. Of course, I looked at it… but I didn’t quite think that Wesley would do that against me in the first round because White is also taking serious risks. Even the computers are flirting with advantage for Black in these lines. It isn’t better, still I didn’t expect this choice from Wesley... I respected that choice a lot.

So had the chance to press for more in the ending with an exchange sacrifice, setting his hopes in his connected passers and supporting bishop pair. When he opted against it, the game became very level, and the players were the first to finish with a draw. 

In round two, Firouzja will have Black vs. Abdusattorov. Gukesh will get a shot against Nepomniachtchi in a battle between Ding's challengers. Additionally, we will see an all-American duel with So vs. Caruana.

The 2024 Sinquefield Cup is the last leg and final classical event of the 2024 Grand Chess Tour. Ten players compete in a classical single round-robin for their share of a $350,000 prize fund.

Previous Coverage

• A Taste of Gukesh vs. Ding at the Grand Chess Tour Finale