Chennai, July 18: French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja continued his impressive performance at the Chennai Grandmasters 2026, securing his second consecutive victory. On Friday, during the second round held at the Westin Hotel in Chennai, he defeated the reigning World Champion, India’s Dommaraju Gukesh (D. Gukesh), after 69 moves, taking the lead in the tournament with two points.
This prestigious classical chess competition, organized by MGD1, features eight top grandmasters competing in a double-round robin format. The total prize pool for the tournament is ₹7.5 million, providing players with a significant opportunity to earn FIDE circuit points.
The first move of the match between Gukesh and Firouzja was made by Deepraj Mukherjee, the General Manager of Westin Chennai Velachery. Playing with the white pieces, Firouzja opted for the Ruy Lopez opening. The match appeared balanced for a long time, and it seemed Gukesh would salvage a draw in the knight-pawn ending. However, Firouzja’s precise pawn sacrifice and excellent endgame technique turned the tide, leading to his decisive victory.
In other matches, Indian Grandmaster M. Praneeth adopted a cautious strategy following his first-round loss, drawing his game against Russia’s Dmitry Andreikin in just 18 moves. Meanwhile, the encounter between Arjun Erigaisi and Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov also ended in a draw after 43 moves.
In another thrilling match, India’s Nihal Sarin managed to secure a draw against America’s Hans Niemann after a marathon struggle lasting 132 moves. This was the longest match of the tournament, showcasing both players’ remarkable patience and technical skill.
Notably, in the first round, Alireza Firouzja had already made a strong start by defeating Indian Grandmaster M. Praneeth in a match that lasted 79 moves. With two consecutive victories, the French player has emerged as a strong contender for the title.
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