Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu's second day was a complete reversal of fortune. He ended the day in first place after compiling four wins, one draw, and one loss across his six games. His rise came at the direct expense of Hikaru Nakamura, who started the day atop the standings but fell to fourth by day's end.

The turning point involved two victories over Nakamura himself. In their first encounter, Praggnanandhaa won a pawn-down endgame after Nakamura blundered from a winning position, a mistake Nakamura acknowledged afterward. Their second game saw another endgame from a Rossolimo Sicilian where Praggnanandhaa simply outplayed his opponent. Nakamura finished with four draws and two losses.

Praggnanandhaa also defeated Fabiano Caruana, who collapsed in a time scramble, though their second game ended in a draw. Against Javokhir Sindarov, Praggnanandhaa took the first game with a heavy-piece endgame victory, and the pair drew their second encounter. Praggnanandhaa attributed his success to luck, a characteristically modest assessment of his four-win performance.

Day three brings the multiplier into play, with each victory now worth three points instead of two. Praggnanandhaa holds a lead but faces threats from both Sindarov and Caruana, who sit just behind him. Nakamura, despite his collapse, demonstrated he remains capable of a strong comeback day.

The format's point structure has made draws progressively less valuable, reshaping strategy as the event progresses. The prize pool of $425,000 includes a Champion's Jackpot built from drawn games. Play resumes with rounds seven through nine, where a single triumph by those behind Praggnanandhaa could substantially alter the standings.