Chennai Grand Masters: Arjun beats world champion Gukesh to take joint lead

Arjun Erigaisi capitalized on mistakes by world champion D. Gukesh to take a joint lead after the fifth round of the fourth Chennai Grand Masters on Monday. With two rounds remaining, Erigaisi is tied with French GM Alireza Firouzja on 3.5 points, while GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov remains firmly in contention for a win that moves him to 3 points, just half a point clear.

The eight-player, two-round tournament carries a purse of Rs 75 crore and valuable FIDE Circuit points. After all four games in the previous round ended in draws, the fifth round brought decisive results that tightened the title fight.

The all-India clash between Erigaisi and Gukesh began with the opening ceremony of Jeshua J, a youngster from Tamil Nadu who became the youngest FIDE Arena Champion at the age of seven years, 10 months and eight days. Once the game settled down, Erigaisi remained firm with the black pieces and avoided premature unnecessary risks. He patiently waited for Gukesh’s accuracy to slip into the mid-game before seizing control when the position opened up.

Erigaisi maintained his dominance in the endgame, and when his d-pawn was queen-safe, Gukesh resigned on move 63.

Firouzja, who won his opening two games, was held by GM Dmitry Andreikin to a 41-move draw, allowing Erigaisi to level at the top of the table.

Abdusattorov also made the most of the black pieces, gradually tightening up against Indian GM Nihal Sarin before forcing his resignation on move 38. In the next game of the day, GM M Pranesh and GM Hans Niemann settled for a draw.

After five rounds, Erigaisi and Firouzja lead the standings with 3.5 points, followed by Abdusattorov at 3. Andreikin has 2.5 points, while Niemann, Pranesh and Nihal have 2 points each. Gukesh remains at the bottom of the table with 1.5 points.

In the sixth round, which is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, Hans Niemann takes on Dmitry Andreikin, Nodirbek Abdusattorov takes on Alireza Firouzja, M Pranesh takes on D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi takes on Nihal Sarin. With only two rounds remaining, the battle for the title remains wide open.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

20 Jul 2026 23:08 IST