NEW DELHI: French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja was crowned champion of the fourth edition of the Chennai Grand Masters after holding Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi to a draw in the final round on Wednesday, while world champion D Gukesh endured a disappointing campaign, finishing last in the elite tournament.Firouzja finished the competition with 4.5 points after scoring two victories and five draws across seven rounds. The Frenchman, who began the event with back-to-back wins, maintained his consistency throughout the round-robin tournament to claim the title and take home the winner’s prize of Rs 25 lakh.
Firouzja holds nerve to clinch title
Heading into the final round, Firouzja held a crucial half-point advantage over closest challengers Erigaisi and Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov.While Firouzja only needed a draw against Erigaisi to secure the championship, Abdusattorov needed a victory with the black pieces against Dmitry Andreikin to keep his title hopes alive.However, Abdusattorov’s ambitious approach backfired as he went down against Andreikin in 37 moves. That result meant Firouzja’s draw with Erigaisi was enough to seal the crown.Playing with the white pieces, Erigaisi attempted to create winning chances, but Firouzja handled the pressure confidently. The two players eventually agreed to a draw after 41 moves in a rook-and-pawn endgame, with the Indian Grandmaster unable to find a realistic path to victory.The Chennai Grand Masters featured eight Grandmasters competing in a round-robin format, with a total prize purse of Rs 75 lakh and valuable FIDE Circuit points at stake.
Gukesh’s difficult run continues
While Firouzja celebrated a memorable triumph, it was a tournament to forget for India’s reigning world champion D Gukesh.The Chennai youngster struggled to find his rhythm throughout the event, losing three of his seven games and finishing at the bottom of the standings with just two points.Gukesh managed to avoid another defeat in the final round, drawing against Hans Niemann, but it was not enough to lift him from eighth place in the final standings.The result marked a rare low point for the 20-year-old, who has enjoyed a historic rise over the past year after becoming the youngest world chess champion.
Andreikin finishes unbeaten, Erigaisi among runners-up
Andreikin ended the tournament as the only unbeaten player apart from Firouzja, finishing with four points after defeating Abdusattorov in the final round.Erigaisi also ended with four points, while Abdusattorov, Nihal Sarin and M Pranesh shared fourth place with 3.5 points.The final-round results saw Gukesh draw with Niemann, Nihal Sarin draw with Pranesh, Firouzja draw with Erigaisi, and Andreikin defeat Abdusattorov.
