Chennai, Jul 16 (PTI) French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja beat Indian GM M Pranesh for the sole win on the opening day of the Chennai Grand Masters here on Thursday. Firouzja, playing black, defeated Pranesh in a marathon game that last 79 moves with the Frenchman making the most of his pawn on f-file in a rook-pawn ending.
The tournament will see eight grandmasters face-off in a double-round robin format and offers a prize purse of Rs 75,00,000 and valuable FIDE Circuit points.
In the day’s other matches, world champion D Gukesh was held to a draw by GM Nihal Sarin in an all-Indian clash while GM Arjun Erigaisi split the point with GM Dmitry Andreikin after just 42 moves.
The only clash not involving an Indian GM, between Nodirbek Abdusattorov and GM Hans Niemann, ended in a draw after 44 moves.
Round 1 Results (July 16, 3:00PM IST) GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov drew with GM Hans Niemann 0.5-0.5 GM Arjun Erigaisi drew with GM Dmitry Andreikin 0.5-0.5 GM M Pranesh lost to GM Alireza Firouzja 0-1 GM D Gukesh drew with GM Nihal Sarin 0.5-0.5. PTI BS KHS BS KHS
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