Arjun Erigaisi Defeats Vidit Gujrathi in Chennai Chess Grand Masters 2024 Opener

In a thrilling opening round of the Chennai Chess Grand Masters 2024, Indian prodigy Arjun Erigaisi emerged victorious over compatriot Vidit Gujrathi after a grueling five-hour battle. The World No. 4 showcased his skills in a strategic showdown that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Gujrathi kicked off the match with a King’s Pawn Opening, only to be met with Erigaisi’s counter in the form of the French Variation of the Sicilian Defense. The two Grandmasters, both key members of the recent gold-winning Indian team at the Chess Olympiad, engaged in a fierce exchange of moves before Erigaisi ultimately clinched the win.

Erigaisi, who recently crossed the historic 2800 ELO ranking mark, is now looking to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Gukesh Dommaraju, who used his victory at the Chennai Chess Grand Masters to propel himself into the Candidates and eventually to the World Championship.

Meanwhile, rising Indian talent Aravindh Chithambaram faced off against Amin Tabatabaei in a hard-fought draw, while USA’s Levon Aronian, the tournament’s second-highest-ranked player, settled for a draw against Serbia’s Alexey Sarana.

In the Challengers segment, 18-year-old Raunak Sadhwani showcased his dominance with a commanding win, while Leon Mendonca and V Pranav also secured victories in their respective matches.

Organized by MGD1 with ChessBase India and sponsored by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, the Chennai Chess Grand Masters 2024 features a competitive field in the Masters category and provides emerging Indian talent with the opportunity to compete at a top-class level in the Challengers category.

The tournament promises more exciting matches and standout performances as players continue to battle it out for the prestigious title.