Arjun Erigaisi Wins Opening Chennai Grandmasters Chess Round

The third edition of the Chennai Grandmasters Chess tournament began with a commanding performance by India's world No. 5 Arjun Erigaisi, who defeated American Awonder Liang in the opening round. The tournament, featuring 20 elite players split into Masters and Challengers sections, offers Rs 1 crore in prize money and vital FIDE Circuit points critical for qualification to the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Notable matches included draws between Chennai Grandmasters Pranav V and Karthikeyan Murali, as well as Dutch GM Anish Giri and American GM Ray Robson, while Nihal Sarin lost to Germany's Vincent Keymer. The Challengers section showcased strong Indian talent with wins by Diptayan Ghosh, Leon Luke Mendonca, and M Pranesh, while players like GM R Vaishali and Abhimanyu Puranik drew their games. This expanded nine-round classical format tournament, running from August 6 to 15, serves as an important platform for players to prepare for upcoming major events like the FIDE Grand Swiss and World Cup, and offers a pathway for emerging talents to advance to the Masters section in future editions.