Anish Giri Defeats Kids vs. Stars in Clock Simul: Tata Steel Chess India Rapid Open Standings

In a thrilling showdown, GM Anish Giri emerged victorious in the third edition of Kids vs. Stars 2024, a chess simul event where he faced off against IM Alice Lee, IM Ryo Chen, GM Shreyas Royal, and GM Andy Woodward. Giri secured a 2.5-1.5 win against the talented young players, marking the first time a Star has won a match in this series.

The Kids vs. Stars event, organized by ChessKid, showcases promising young talents against established, titled players. While the Kids had triumphed in the previous two editions, this time they faced a grandmaster for the first time. With two grandmasters and two international masters on their team, the Kids put up a strong fight, with 15-year-old Shreyas Royal being the oldest player on their side.

Giri, playing with the white pieces on all four boards, navigated the games with a time control of 60 minutes plus a 15-second increment, while the Kids had a shorter time control of 10+15. The games were played simultaneously, with the first side to reach 2.5 points declared the winner. Giri, known for his strategic prowess, expressed the challenge of facing four talented opponents simultaneously.

The match saw a draw against Royal in the first game, followed by a quick win against top seed Andy Woodward in the second game. Despite a blunder that led to a loss against Lee, Giri bounced back with a win against Chen in the final game to secure the match victory.

Giri’s tactical play and strategic decisions throughout the simul showcased his experience and skill, ultimately leading to his triumph over the young prodigies. The Kids vs. Stars event continues to be a platform for the next generation of chess talents to challenge and learn from established players, setting the stage for future exciting matchups.