Erigaisi\u2019s defeat meant that French GM Alireza Firouzja, who drew his Round 6 game against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, is in sole lead with 4 points. Erigaisi and Abdusattorov are in joint second place with 3.5 points.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Organised by MGD1, the tournament witnesses eight grandmasters face off in a round-robin format and offers a prize purse of \u20b9 75,00,000 and valuable FIDE Circuit points. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
After Narendra Kumar, Managing Trustee of Chola Foundation, and WGM Aarthie Ramaswamy made the first ceremonial move, it looked like Gukesh could finally score a win. But the world champion erred more than once with his calculations, and Pranesh made the most of these opportunities to register his first win of the competition in 39 moves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Erigaisi needed just a draw against Nihal Sarin to stay in joint lead with Firouzja, and for most of their game, that result looked a distinct possibility. But a brilliant rook sacrifice by Nihal turned the game decisively in his favour, and Erigaisi resigned after 60 moves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier on Monday, Erigaisi pounced on world champion Gukesh's errors to storm into joint lead after Round 5 in the fourth edition of the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2026, India\u2019s most prestigious classical chess tournament, at The Westin Chennai Velachery Hotel on Tuesday, while GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov also registered a win with black to throw his hat in the title race.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With just two rounds left to play, Erigaisi is tied with French GM Alireza Firouzja on 3.5 points while Abdusattorov is half a point behind on 3.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Results (Round 6):<\/p>\r\n\r\n
GM Hans Niemann (2.5) drew with GM Dmitry Andreikin (3)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (3.5) drew with GM Alireza Firouzja (4) <\/p>\r\n\r\n
GM Arjun Erigaisi (3.5) lost to GM Nihal Sarin (3)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
GM M Pranesh (3) beat GM D Gukesh (1.5)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pairings (Round 7):<\/p>\r\n\r\n
GM D Gukesh vs GM Hans Niemann<\/p>\r\n\r\n
GM Nihal Sarin vs GM M Pranesh<\/p>\r\n\r\n
GM D Gukesh vs GM Hans Niemann<\/p>\r\n\r\n
GM Dmitry Andreikin vs GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov<\/p>\r\n\r\n