Chennai, Nov 6: The Chennai Grand Masters delivered another day of riveting chess, showcasing top-tier strategies and remarkable resilience among its competitors.
Arjun Erigaisi, representing India, maintained his impressive form by drawing against American chess prodigy, Levon Aronian, who is the tournament’s second-highest-ranked player.
This match, featuring a Queen’s Pawn Opening by Arjun, evolved into a complex battle of wits, ending in a hard-fought draw that highlighted both grandmasters’ tactical acumen.
The tournament, divided into Masters and Challengers categories, is a focal point for chess enthusiasts, highlighting both seasoned and emerging talents. The Masters category, with an average rating of 2729, promises fierce competition, while the Challengers category introduces fresh Indian talents to the international chess scene. The event is a collaborative effort between MGD1 and ChessBase India, enjoying support from the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.
In the Challengers segment, Vaishali R, making her debut alongside another female player, clinched her first points in a commendable draw against top-seed Raunak Sadhwani.
Additionally, Leon Mendonca and Pranav V have surged ahead in this category, each securing their second consecutive win, setting a vigorous pace for the competition. The matches, including Vaishali’s determined performance against Raunak, showcased the depth of talent and the spirit of competition among the challengers.
The event continued to unfold at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai, running from November 5 to 11, 2024. With tickets available on BookMyShow for INR 100, the tournament has been accessible to a broad audience, allowing chess enthusiasts to witness high-calibre matches firsthand.
Day 2 witnessed further intense matchups, such as the tactical draw between Aravindh Chithambaram and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Amin Tabatabaei and Parham Maghsoodloo each scored significant victories, escalating the excitement within the Masters category.
The Challengers category saw Pranesh M and Karthikeyan Murali reach a draw, while Leon Mendonca and V Pranav notched wins against their respective opponents, showcasing their prowess and ambition.
With the competition intensifying, the Masters category is currently led by a three-way tie featuring Arjun, Vachier-Lagrave, and Tabatabaei, each demonstrating why they are considered top contenders. The Challengers category is equally compelling, with Leon and Pranav at the helm, both boasting flawless records thus far in the tournament.
