Super Chess Classic Preview: Praggnanandhaa to take on Firouzja in opener Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa will open the Super Chess Classic in Bucharest with a match against French player Alireza Firouzja, marking the first classical event of the year as part of the Grand Chess Tour. The 10-player all-play-all tournament features a total prize pool of USD 350,000, with an additional USD 125,000 bonus and a first prize of USD 100,000. Praggnanandhaa, who has dropped to world ranking 16 in live ratings following a mediocre performance in the recent Candidates’ tournament, faces a favorable draw with five white games out of nine rounds. The Indian player is the sole representative from India after world champion D. Gukesh withdrew from the classical format, leaving his seat to Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov, who had previously challenged Gukesh in the world championship. Sindarov, now the dominant force in the elite circuit, dominated the Candidates’ tournament with an all-time best performance, earning the right to challenge Gukesh later this year. His victory in the World Cup last October and strong start to 2026, including a win at the Tata Steel Masters, solidify his status as a key contender. In the Super Chess Classic, Sindarov will face Romanian Deac Bogdan-Daniel in the first round. The event’s top seed is American Fabiano Caruana, who will open against Dutch player Jorden van Foreest, a rising star who recently defeated world number one Magnus Carlsen in the Te Pe Sigeman tournament. Van Foreest, ranked 20th in the world, has maintained consistency in recent competitions. Another notable pairing includes Dutch Anish Giri facing French Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who has an impeccable record in the Grand Chess Tour.#praggnanandhaa #grand_chess_tour #firouzja #bucharest #sindarov
