Playing with the black pieces, Praggnanandhaa gave little away as the Arkhangelsk Variation of the Ruy Lopez produced a relatively quiet encounter. The Indian\u2019s preparation appeared to be superior, while Sevian showed little inclination to complicate matters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The players began exchanging pieces early, with a pair of rooks coming off the board as soon as the 11th move. Further exchanges led to a queen-and-minor-piece endgame in which both players had two knights each, leaving little scope for either side to create winning chances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Once the queens were traded, the outcome became almost inevitable and the game eventually ended in a draw after 48 moves, although the players could have agreed to split the point earlier.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Top seed Fabiano Caruana was the only player to register a victory in the opening round of the 10-player, nine-round tournament. The American defeated Jorden Van Foreest of the Netherlands to take the early lead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Caruana once again underlined why he has been the standout player on the Grand Chess Tour this season, outplaying Van Foreest from an initially equal position. A middlegame tactical oversight from the Dutchman cost him a pawn, allowing Caruana to seize the advantage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The American then displayed his trademark technique to convert the extra material into a full point after 55 moves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Elsewhere, world championship contender Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan drew with Armenian-turned-American Levon Aronian. Playing white, Sindarov opted for an irregular queen\u2019s pawn set-up and appeared to gain an opportunity when Aronian dropped a pawn.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, the resulting opposite-coloured bishops' endgame offered no realistic winning chances, and the game was eventually drawn.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Vincent Keymer of Germany also had to settle for half a point against Wesley So of the United States. Keymer attempted to build an attack against So\u2019s king, but the American defended comfortably and neutralised the danger.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, the resulting opposite-coloured bishops' endgame offered no realistic winning chances, and the game was eventually drawn.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Sinquefield Cup is being played for a total prize fund of USD 4,75,000, with Praggnanandhaa looking to build momentum in the closing stages of the Grand Chess Tour. After his solid opening-round performance against Sevian, the Indian will now look to push for his first win of the tournament in the rounds ahead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n