French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja Wins Chennai Grand Masters
French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja claimed victory at the Chennai Grand Masters, finishing the tournament unbeaten. He secured his title after drawing with India’s Arjun Erigaisi in the seventh and final round, which took place on Wednesday.
Firouzja wrapped up the tournament with 4.5 points, thanks to two wins and five draws across the seven rounds. His early success in the tournament, where he won the first two games, helped him fend off challenges from both Erigaisi and Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
Going into the last round, Firouzja held a narrow half-point lead over both rivals, needing just a draw to clinch the championship. The competition shifted when Abdusattorov lost to Dmitry Andreikin, which eliminated his chances of winning.
In his game against Erigaisi, Firouzja played cautiously. He navigated through a rook-and-pawn endgame with ease. Erigaisi could not find a way to turn the game in his favor, and the match ended in a draw after 41 moves, confirming Firouzja’s championship title.
Firouzja’s victory earned him Rs 25 lakh. His consistent performance, highlighted by two wins and five draws, emphasized a strategy focused on reliability rather than risk.
Dmitry Andreikin, the only other player who remained unbeaten, shared second place with Erigaisi, both finishing with four points. Abdusattorov, along with Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and M Pranesh, ended in fourth place with 3.5 points.
World champion D Gukesh struggled throughout the tournament, finishing last with only two points after losing three of his seven games. He concluded his week with a draw against American Grandmaster Hans Niemann but wasn’t able to recover from previous setbacks.
Round 7 Results:
- GM D Gukesh (2) drew with GM Hans Niemann (3)
- GM Nihal Sarin (3.5) drew with GM M Pranesh (3.5)
- GM Alireza Firouzja (4.5) drew with GM Arjun Erigaisi (4)
- GM Dmitry Andreikin (4) defeated GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (3.5)
– Ends
