Chennai Grand Masters 2025: Nihal Sarin shocks Arjun Erigaisi, Vincent Keymer stays unbeaten
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The Chennai Grand Masters 2025, now in its third year, features two elite 10-player round-robin sections - Masters and Challengers. The tournament spans nine rounds over ten days with a prize pool of Rs 1 Crore, offering Rs 25 Lakhs for the Masters winner and Rs 7 Lakhs for the Challengers winner.
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The tournament also provides FIDE Circuit points, with the Masters champion earning 24.5 points toward 2026 Candidates qualification.
The Challengers winner secures a spot in the 2026 Masters section.
Nihal's victory over Arjun came after an intense strategic battle beginning with the Reti Opening. Chess legend Vishwanathan Anand provided live commentary as the game progressed at a measured pace, with Arjun capturing the first piece on move 15.
The middlegame gradually opened up, allowing Nihal to press his advantage and secure victory on move 70.
In other matches, GM Murali Karthikeyan defeated Jorden van Foreest to improve his standing.
GM Vidit Gujrathi and GM Pranav V drew their game, while American players GM Awonder Liang and GM Ray Robson also split points. Keymer's draw with Giri maintained his sole lead in the tournament.
In the Challengers section, GM Abhimanyu Puranik took the lead after defeating WGM Vaishali Rameshbabu with white pieces. Previous joint leader M Pranesh drew against GM Adhiban Baskaran.
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GM Diptayan Ghosh won against Harshavardhan GB, while GM Leon Luke Mendonca defeated GM Harika Dronavalli. Both winners joined Pranesh with 3 points. GM P Iniyan defeated GM Aryan Chopra to reach 2.5 points.
After four rounds, Vincent Keymer leads the Masters standings with 3.5 points, followed by Arjun Erigaisi with 2.5 points. Anish Giri, Ray Robson, Awonder Liang, Vidit Gujrathi, and Karthikeyan Murali are tied with 2 points each.
Nihal Sarin and V Pranav share 1.5 points, while Jorden van Foreest holds 1 point in the Masters section.
In the Challengers standings, Abhimanyu Puranik leads with 3.5 points. M Pranesh, Diptayan Ghosh, and Leon Luke Mendonca follow with 3 points each. Pa Iniyan has 2.5 points, and Adhiban Baskaran holds 2 points.
Vaishali Rameshbabu and Aryan Chopra have 1 point each, while Harika Dronavalli and Harshavardhan GB are at the bottom with 0.5 points each.
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