The penultimate leg of the GCT takes place in St. Louis from Nov 14-18.

<big>Fabiano Caruana is the winner of the 2023 Rapid and Blitz Tournament in St. Louis!</big>

<big><img alt="" src="https://www.chessclub.com/uploads/content/Rapid_Blitz_St_Louis_2023_Caruana.png" style="max-width: 100%;height: auto" /></big> 
Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lladaphotography">David Llada - Chess &amp; Photography</a> 
 
<big>The last round, which was a winner-take-all affair, saw Fabiano prevail over French super_GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. 
Heading into the final round, Caruana was ahead of MVL by half a point, and the two, in a thrilling tournament final, faced each other, with Fabiano playing White.&nbsp;MVL played an excellent game and got a&nbsp;winning position in the endgame but blundered all his advantage in a single move, allowing Caruana to save the game and win the event. 
Caruana gained 13 GCT points (and $40,000), extending his leadership. 
Here are the GCT standings before the Sinquefield Cup, which is the last event of the Tour:</big>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="overflow-x:auto;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<th><big>Player</big></th>
			<th><big>Superbet Chess Classic Romania</big></th>
			<th><big>Poland GCT Rapid &amp; Blitz</big></th>
			<th><big>Croatia GCT Rapid &amp; Blitz</big></th>
			<th><big>Saint Louis Rapid &amp; Blitz</big></th>
			<th><big>Sinquefield Cup</big></th>
			<th><big>Total points</big></th>
			<th><big>Prize money</big></th>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td align="left"><big>Fabiano Caruana (<abbr title="United States">United States</abbr>)</big></td>
			<td><big>13</big></td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>7</big></td>
			<td><big>13</big></td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>33</big></td>
			<td><big>$160,000</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td align="left"><big>Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (<abbr title="France">France</abbr>)</big></td>
			<td><big>4.5</big></td>
			<td><big>7.5</big></td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>10</big></td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>22</big></td>
			<td><big>$72,750</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td align="left"><big>Alireza Firouzja (<abbr title="France">France</abbr>)</big></td>
			<td><big>7.8</big></td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>8</big></td>
			<td><big>6</big></td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>21.8</big></td>
			<td><big>$82,750</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td align="left"><big>Wesley So (<abbr title="United States">United States</abbr>)</big></td>
			<td><big>7.8</big></td>
			<td><big>7.5</big></td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>4.5</big></td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>19.8</big></td>
			<td><big>$75,750</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td align="left"><big>Ian Nepomniachtchi (<abbr title="FIDE">FIDE</abbr>)</big></td>
			<td><big>2</big></td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>10</big></td>
			<td><big>7.5</big></td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>19.5</big></td>
			<td><big>$65,500</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td align="left"><big>Jan-Krzysztof Duda (<abbr title="Poland">Poland</abbr>)</big></td>
			<td><big>4.5</big></td>
			<td><big>10</big></td>
			<td><big>3.5</big></td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>18</big></td>
			<td><big>$59,250</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td align="left"><big>Rich&aacute;rd Rapport (<abbr title="Romania">Romania</abbr>)</big></td>
			<td><big>7.8</big></td>
			<td><big>5</big></td>
			<td><big>5</big></td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>17.8</big></td>
			<td><big>$64,750</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td align="left"><big>Anish Giri (<abbr title="Netherlands">Netherlands</abbr>)</big></td>
			<td><big>7.8</big></td>
			<td><big>4</big></td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>2</big></td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>13.8</big></td>
			<td><big>$60,750</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td align="left"><big>Ding Liren (<abbr title="China">China</abbr>)</big></td>
			<td><big>3</big></td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="background:#eee">&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td><big>3</big></td>
			<td><big>$16,000</big></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

<hr />
<big>The Grand Tour Chess 2023 is approaching its conclusion, with two events in St. Louis. 
From November 14-18, the Rapid and Blitz tournament, and the Sinquefield Cup from November 21-30. 
 
The current standings in the GCT are as follows:</big>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="overflow-x:auto;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<th><big>Player</big></th>
			<th><big>Superbet Chess Classic Romania</big></th>
			<th><big>Poland GCT Rapid &amp; Blitz</big></th>
			<th><big>Croatia GCT Rapid &amp; Blitz</big></th>
			<th><big>Saint Louis Rapid &amp; Blitz</big></th>
			<th><big>Sinquefield Cup</big></th>
			<th><big>Total points</big></th>
			<th><big>Prize money</big></th>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><big>Fabiano Caruana (United States)</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>13</big></td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>7</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>20</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>$120,000</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><big>Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland)</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>4.5</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>10</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>3.5</big></td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>18</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>$59,250</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><big>Rich&aacute;rd Rapport (Romania)</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>7.75</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>5</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>5</big></td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>17.75</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>$64,750</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><big>Alireza Firouzja (France)</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>7.75</big></td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>8</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>15.75</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>$67,750</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><big>Wesley So (United States)</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>7.75</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>7.5</big></td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>15.25</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>$65,250</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><big>Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE)</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>2</big></td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>10</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>12</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>$43,000</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><big>Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France)</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>4.5</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>7.5</big></td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>12</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>$42,250</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><big>Anish Giri (Netherlands)</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>7.75</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>4</big></td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>11.75</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>$52,750</big></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><big>Ding Liren(China)</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>3</big></td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="background: rgb(213, 213, 213); text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>3</big></td>
			<td style="text-align: center;"><big>$16,000</big></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

 
<big>The field is studded with big names, and the battle for the Rapid and Blitz will be exciting.</big>

&nbsp;

<img alt="" src="https://www.chessclub.com/uploads/content/RB_Louis_2023_Participants.png" style="max-width: 100%;height: auto" />

<big>Here is the schedule:</big>

<img alt="" src="https://www.chessclub.com/uploads/content/RB_Louis_2023_Schedule.png" style="max-width: 100%;height: auto" />

2023 GCT - Rapid & Blitz in St. Louis