He defeated International Chess Federation (FIDE) Candidates Tournament champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, after winning a two-game playoff.

Both players sat on five points at the end of the Sinquefield Cup, with Nepomniachtchi winning the game in the round-robin between them.

However the Russian player - who is playing under the FIDE banner due to sanctions against his nation due to its involvement in the invasion of Ukraine - only picked up one more victory against American Levon Aronian - formerly of Armenia before changing allegiance late last year - whilst drawing the rest.

Firouzja defeated another home player, Wesley So, as well as Aronian and Azerbaijan's Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

In the playoff, the first game ended in a draw, but the Frenchman took victory in the second to be crowned the Sinquefield Cup champion for 2022.

It makes him the second winner from his home nation in as many years, after Maxime Vachier-Lagrave was victorious last year.

This year, Vachier-Lagrave was only eighth.

Wesley So defeated American compatriots Fabiano Caruana and Leinier Dominguez for third.

Firouzja's win ensured he was crowned the Grand Chess Tour champion for 2022, with a total of 36.5 points.

Last year's winner So finished second overall on 30 points thanks to his third-place finish in St Louis, one in front of Vachier-Lagrave.

Caruana and Aronian completed the top five, followed by Nepomniachtchi.