by GM Fabiano Caruana ended up winning the $68,750 first prize at the Superbet Chess Classic Romania even after loosing his Round 9 game.
He won all three games in the playoff to retain last year’s title.
All other games in Round 9 between GM Wesley So vs. GM Gukesh Dommaraju, GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac vs. GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and GM Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov ended in draws.
Here are the Round 9 results and final standings:-
Round 9 results
| Bo. | No. | Name | Result | Name | Rtg | No. |
| 1 | 5 | Giri, Anish | 1 – 0 | Caruana, Fabiano | 2805 | 10 |
| 2 | 6 | So, Wesley | ½ – ½ | Gukesh, Dommaraju | 2763 | 4 |
| 3 | 7 | Deac, Bogdan-Daniel | ½ – ½ | Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | 2732 | 3 |
| 4 | 8 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | ½ – ½ | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | 2766 | 2 |
| 5 | 9 | Praggnanandhaa, Rameshbabu | ½ – ½ | Firouzja, Alireza | 2737 | 1 |
Caruana Wins All Three Games in Playoffs
Gukesh D had drawn his game, he had also qualified, together with Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa. With four players in first place, an all-play-all was contested with a 10+5 time control. After 38 out of 45 games in the main tournament ended in draws, the playoff didn’t had draws but rather six decisive games. Firouzja beat Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa but lost to Caruana, who ended up winning all three rapid games.
Final Ranking cross table after 9 Rounds
| Rank | Name | Rtg | FED | TB1 | |
| 1 | GM | Caruana, Fabiano | 2805 | USA | 5 |
| 2 | GM | Firouzja, Alireza | 2737 | FRA | 5 |
| GM | Gukesh, Dommaraju | 2763 | IND | 5 | |
| GM | Praggnanandhaa, Rameshbabu | 2747 | IND | 5 | |
| 5 | GM | Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | 2732 | FRA | 4.5 |
| GM | Giri, Anish | 2745 | NED | 4.5 | |
| GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | 2770 | FID | 4.5 | |
| 8 | GM | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | 2766 | UZB | 4 |
| GM | So, Wesley | 2757 | USA | 4 | |
| 10 | GM | Deac, Bogdan-Daniel | 2680 | ROU | 3.5 |
