Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Tops Elite Field to Claim First Rapid & Blitz Title at 2026 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 7, 2026--

Grandmaster (GM) Praggnanandhaa won his first Rapid & Blitz title at the 2026 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club as the first U.S. leg of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT). The Indian grandmaster built his victory by topping the rapid section with 12 of a possible 18 points before sealing the overall title in the blitz, winning $50,000. His rapid performance also lifted him into the live top 10 of the world rapid rankings for the first time in his career.

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"I was just trying to stay calm and play. I wanted to win the Rapid and Blitz separately, which I think I managed, so that's good," said Praggnanandhaa. "Last year, the Rapid & Blitz put me in a situation where I had to perform in the Sinquefield Cup, but this time the Rapid & Blitz has helped me go into the 2026 Sinquefield Cup with a good score, so I'm happy that I managed to improve in that area."

Finishing second was Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov, who held the runner-up spot throughout the tournament to earn $40,000 in prize money. American grandmaster Wesley So placed third, earning $30,000.

"Congratulations to Praggnanandhaa on an outstanding performance throughout the week," said Yasser Seirawan, chief commentator and spokesperson for the Saint Louis Chess Club. "He set the pace in the rapid section and continued to play with remarkable consistency in the blitz against one of the strongest fields in the world. Winning the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz is a significant achievement, and we look forward to seeing him carry this momentum into the Sinquefield Cup next week."

2026 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Results

Current 2026 Grand Chess Tour Leaderboard

The 2026 GCT Finals is beginning to take shape. GM Fabiano Caruana currently holds the top spot, followed by GM Praggnanandhaa, GM Wesley So and GM Vincent Keymer.

The last regular season stop and signature event of the GCT circuit, the 2026 Sinquefield Cup running Aug. 10-19, 2026 will continue its traditional classical format. Hosted annually by the Saint Louis Chess Club with a $475,000 total prize fund, the strongest tournament on American soil will be the final opportunity for competitors to earn points in the 2026 GCT, aiming to finish in the top four to qualify for the GCT Finals. The tournament will feature wildcard GM Levon Aronian from the United States, as well as GM Sam Sevian from the United States who replaced GM Alireza Firouzja who withdrew from the Sinquefield Cup late last month.

The tour will come to a dramatic conclusion during the 2026 GCT Finals, set for Aug. 22-27, 2026. The top four full-tour players will battle for a $450,000 prize fund in an intense knockout competition featuring two Classical games, two Rapid games and four Blitz games. With the 2026 GCT title on the line, only one player will emerge as champion.

Follow all the chess action in Saint Louis by watching the professional commentary team including GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Maurice Ashley, GM Cristian Chirila and GM Peter Svidler on the STLCC’s Youtube and Twitch channels.

This year’s GCT participants are competing for a prize purse of $2 million over the course of the full tour. The prize fund is provided by the 2026 Grand Chess Tour major sponsors Super Foundation and Saint Louis Chess Club, both non-profit organizations that support chess education and the mission to expand the game of chess to a worldwide audience.

For more information about the Grand Chess Tour, visit grandchesstour.org.

Grand Chess Tour

The Grand Chess Tour (GCT) is a circuit of international events, each demonstrating the highest level of organization for the world's best players. The legendary Garry Kasparov, one of the world's greatest ambassadors for chess, inspired the GCT and helped solidify the partnership between the organizers. For more information about the tour, please visit grandchesstour.org.

Super Foundation

The Super Foundation, a non-profit organization, is responsible for coordinating the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of Super Technologies. Their goal is to support the advancement of health, education, and sports initiatives, with a special emphasis on promoting the game of chess and its myriad benefits within all the communities they serve.

Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making chess a vital part of the community and advancing Saint Louis’s reputation as the nation’s premier chess destination—the U.S. Chess Capital. In addition to hosting world-class tournaments and providing a welcoming space for casual and competitive play, the Club offers a robust slate of educational programming, including beginner lessons, chess improvement classes, lectures, and special events for players of all ages and skill levels.

Recognizing the cognitive, academic, and social benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is deeply committed to scholastic education. The Club supports existing chess programs in area schools while actively developing new in-school and after-school initiatives that introduce students to the game and help young players thrive both on and off the board. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.

Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa celebrates after winning the 2026 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz at the Saint Louis Chess Club in St Louis, Missouri.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith left the game against the Buffalo Bills for the second time Sunday, first to be evaluated for a head injury and then for an ankle injury.

The Jets announced Smith was questionable to return in the fourth quarter because of the ailing ankle. It was uncertain when the injury occurred.

Smith had returned after missing the opening series of the second half while he was being evaluated for a concussion after taking a big hit just before halftime.

Rookie Cade Klubnik opened under center for the third quarter in Smith's place to make his NFL debut.

The Jets, who entered Sunday having been outscored 107-9 in the final two minutes of the first half in 26 games with Aaron Glenn as coach, had a promising drive just before halftime. But on third-and-4 from the 9, Smith rolled to his right and threw a jump pass toward the end zone that fell incomplete. Terrel Bernard smacked into Smith with his right shoulder as the quarterback was in the air, and Smith was on his back for a few minutes and looked at by trainers before heading to the injury tent.

With Smith out, Glenn opted to have Jason Sanders kick a 27-yarder on fourth down to cut the deficit to 10-6.

Klubnik was a fourth-round pick from Clemson and won the job to be Smith's backup. The Jets also have Will Levis on the practice squad.

Smith was 9 of 16 for 113 yards against the Bills before leaving the first time.

Klubnik led a scoring drive that was capped by Sanders’ 22-yarder that made it 10-9. Klubnik completed two passes for 39 yards and scrambled twice for 19 yards, putting the Jets in scoring position. With New York on the Buffalo 4 on third down, Klubnik’s pass to the end zone fell incomplete.

The Jets announced Smith had been cleared to return and was back in the huddle on the next drive for New York, which trailed 17-9.

But Klubnik came back in the game for the next possession as Smith headed to the injury tent. A few minutes later, he headed inside to the locker room.

Jets rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. injured an ankle on New York’s first offensive play. Left guard Dylan Parham hurt a knee early in the second quarter.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

New York Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik rushes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik (10) runs past Buffalo Bills' Landon Jackson (94) during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

-Buffalo Bills' Terrel Bernard (8) hits New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the first half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)