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Superbet Rapid 2025 R4-6: Firouzja joins Fedoseev in the lead, Aravindh in pursuit

by Shahid Ahmed - 28/04/2025

Alireza Firouzja (FRA) joined Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) in the lead 8/12 at Grand Chess Tour 2025 Superbet Rapid. Firouzja started the day with a win over R Praggnanandhaa when the latter refused to draw by repetition and paid a heavy price for it. Praggnanandhaa drew with Levon Aronian (USA) before finishing the day with another loss, against Veselin Topalov (BUL). Aravindh Chithambaram climbed up to the third spot 7/12. He outplayed former World Champion, Topalov. Then he drew with Fedoseev and David Gavrilescu (ROU) respectively. Praggnanandhaa has slipped to seventh place with a score of 5/12. Round 7 starts today from 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

A winless day for Praggnanandhaa

R Praggnanandhaa had a tough second day at Superbet Rapid 2025. He suffered two losses and drew the other one.

Aravindh Chithambaram made a steady climb | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Round 4: Firouzja - Praggnanandhaa: 2-0

R Praggnanandhaa (2684) decided to push for a win instead of repeating moves and accepting a draw in an equal queen and rook endgame.

Position after 55.Kh3

55...Qf1+ 56.Kg3 Qg1+ and Black should have accepted draw by repetition. However, 55...Rd4?? ambitious approach did not work out 56.Rb7 Qf1+ 57.Kh2 Qc4 58.Qf6 and it's over. Black cannot stop all threats.

Alireza Firouzja - R Praggnanandhaa, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

R Praggnanandhaa started the day with a loss against Alireza Firouzja (FRA) | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Topalov - Aravindh: 0-2

Aravindh Chithambaram (2550) outplayed Veselin Topalov (BUL, 2632). He used his king beautifully throughout the game.

Position after 39...Kf4!

39...Kf4! 40.bxa5 e4 41.Nd2 e3 42.Nf3 e2 and White resigned. What a picturesque study-like finish. This should definitely make it to future chess books.

Aravindh Chithambaram started his day with a win over former World Champion - Veselin Topalov (BUL) | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Round 5: Aravindh - Fedoseev: 1-1

Aravindh Chithambaram had a well contested draw against Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

R Praggnanandhaa had a hard fought draw against Levon Aronian | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Round 6: David - Aravindh: 1-1

David Gavrilescu (ROU) - Aravindh Chithambaram: 1-1 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

R Praggnanandhaa suffered his second loss of the day, against Veselin Topalov (BUL) in Round 6.

Round 6 in progress | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Replay live stream

Replay Round 4-6 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Schedule and Format

Superbet Rapid and Blitz will have three rounds per day in the Rapid portion from 26th to 28th April. The Blitz event will take place on 29th and 30th April. It will be a double round-robin event for the Blitz which means nine rounds will be played on each day. Round 1 starts at 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. It will be a 10-player Round Robin event. Time control for Rapid will be 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment.

Superbet Rapid and Blitz 2025 schedule | Photo: Grand Chess Tour

Prize

The total prize fund for each of the Rapid and Blitz event is US$ 175000. The top three prizes are US$ 40000, $30000 and $25000.

Replay Round 4-6 games

Standings after Round 6

Alireza Firouzja and Vladimir Fedoseev are in the lead 8/12 | Photo: Grand Chess Tour

Links

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