Daijiworld Media Network- Chennai

Chennai, Aug 13: In a high-stakes Round 6 clash at the Chennai Grand Masters, Indian ace GM Arjun Erigaisi held tournament leader GM Vincent Keymer of Germany to a tense draw, ensuring the title battle remains wide open. Keymer, however, maintained his slender one-point lead at the top of the Masters standings, with Arjun in close pursuit.

Adding further drama to the tournament, American GM Awonder Liang defeated 18-year-old Indian GM Pranav V in a much-anticipated encounter, moving level on points with Arjun and intensifying the race for the crown.

Now in its third edition, the Chennai Grand Masters is India’s strongest classical chess event, featuring elite 10-player round-robin Masters and Challengers sections. With a prize pool of Rs 1 crore, the Masters champion will pocket Rs 25 lakh and earn valuable FIDE Circuit points towards 2026 Candidates qualification.

The Keymer–Arjun duel began with the German opening with the Queen’s Pawn, quickly transitioning into a Queen’s Gambit, while Arjun countered with the Slav Defense. Keymer held the early initiative, but Arjun’s resilient play ensured the German could not extend his lead further.

Elsewhere in the Masters, Vidit Gujrathi drew with Anish Giri, while Jorden van Foreest bounced back with a win over Nihal Sarin. Karthikeyan Murali also impressed, holding Ray Robson to a draw.

The Challengers section witnessed a major twist as M Pranesh ended leader Abhimanyu Puranik’s unbeaten run, joining him at the top along with Leon Luke Mendonca, who outplayed Aryan Chopra. GM Harika Dronavalli overcame compatriot Vaishali Rameshbabu in an all-women Grandmaster battle, while Adhiban Baskaran outclassed Diptayan Ghosh. Pa Iniyan and Harshavardhan GB settled for a draw.

With three rounds remaining, both sections of the tournament are now poised for a nail-biting finish.