India’s Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi started his Chennai Grandmasters Marketing campaign in Commanding Vogue, Defeating American Awonder Liang within the opening spherical on Thursday. Germany’s Vincent Keymer additionally registered a big win over India’s nihal sarin because the high-stakes interactive event acquired underway.
The occasion, which includes a prize pool of 1 crore, is being assist in a round-robin format comprising 9 rounds of classical chess throughout two sessions-Masters and Challengers. The event will run for 10 days, with 20 gamers every in bot segments, and presents Essential Fide Score Factors that Rely In direction of Qualification for the 2026 Candidates TOURNAMENT. The Eventual Winner of that Cycle will problem reigning world champion D gukesh for the title.
The day additionally featured A number of tightly Contested Attracts. A A lot-Aneticipated Conflict Between Two of Chennai’s Homegrown Grandmasters, Pranav V and KartheKeyan Murali, Resulted in a Laborious-Fought Stalemate. Dutch Gm Jorden Van Foreest Held India’s Vidit Gujarati to a draw, whereas anish giri’s high-profile encounter in opposition to Ray robson of the usa additionally completed Degree.
Among the many standout performances, keymer’s victory over nihal sarin was significantly notworthy, as he capitalized on mineor inaccurax to grind out a full level.
The challengers phase is a promising begin for the Indian contingent. Grandmasters Diptayan Ghosh, Leon Luke Mendonca, And M Pranesh Scored Wins of their opening matches to set the tempo early within the competitors. Ghosh Beat D Harika, Whereas Mendonca and Pranesh outplayed Harshavardhan GB and Aryan Chopra, respectively.
In the meantime, R Vaishali, Abhimanyu Puranik, and Iniyan Pa Needed to Settle Down
With A number of Essential Fide Factors and a Shot at Climbing The International Ranks on Supply, The Match has added significance for most of the packages. The efficiency right here will put on closely within the race to the 2026 candidates, the place India’s rising chess star Gukesh Awaits His Challenger.
Spherical 1 outcomes
Masters: Arjun Erigaisi 1–0 Awonder Liang, Vincent Keymer 1-0 Nihal Sarin, Anish Giri – Ray Robson, Vidit Gujrathi – Jorden Van Foree
Challengers: Diptayan ghosh 1–0 d harika, leon mendonca 1–0 harshavardhan gb, m pranesh 1–0 aryan chopra, adhiban baskaran – abhimanyu puranik, r vaishali – iniyan pa
– Ends