Arjun Erigaisi holds Hikaru Nakamura to a draw in Freestyle Chess Grand Slam quarterfinals

Arjun Erigaisi played out a draw against Hikaru Nakamura on the opening day of the quarterfinals of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tournament in Paris on Wednesday, showcasing his skills and determination on the board. As the only Indian left in the knockout stage, all eyes were on Arjun as he faced off against the formidable Nakamura.

The 21-year-old, who recently became India’s top-rated player after crossing the 2800 Elo barrier in classical chess rating, started the game strong by advancing his knights aggressively in the opening moves. Despite an early rook sacrifice and a misstep with his knight, Arjun managed to hold his ground and engage in a strategic battle with Nakamura.

After a prolonged game of cat and mouse with each other’s kings and rooks, both players agreed to a draw on move 77. The second leg of their match will determine who advances to the semifinals, adding to the suspense and excitement of the tournament.

In other quarterfinal matches, Magnus Carlsen secured a comfortable win against Nodirbek Abdusattorov, while Ian Nepomniachtchi drew with Vincent Keymer. Fabiano Caruana and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave also settled for a draw in their game.

Meanwhile, World champion D Gukesh faced a defeat in the 9-12 place play-off against Richard Rapport, while Vidit Gujrathi lost to R Praggnanandhaa in an all-Indian contest. The remaining quarterfinal matches are set to take place on Thursday, with more thrilling chess action expected.

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tournament, also known as Fischer Random or Chess 960, brings a new level of excitement to the game with shuffled pieces and a focus on originality over preparation. With players like Carlsen leading the charge, the tournament promises to deliver intense and unpredictable matches.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tournament as the competition heats up and the players battle it out for a spot in the semifinals.