SerpApi.Org
French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja clinched the title at the fourth edition of the Chennai Grand Masters after holding India's Arjun Erigaisi to a draw in the seventh and final round on Wednesday.
Firouzja finished with 4.5 points after two wins and five draws from seven rounds, staying unbeaten throughout the tournament. His strong start, marked by consecutive victories in the opening two rounds, proved decisive as he held off a late challenge from Erigaisi and Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov to lift the title.
The Frenchman entered the final round with a half-point lead over both Erigaisi and Abdusattorov, needing only a draw to secure the crown.
The title race took a decisive turn when Abdusattorov, who had to win with the black pieces to keep his hopes alive, lost to Dmitry Andreikin in 37 moves. The defeat ended the Uzbek Grandmaster's challenge and left Firouzja in complete control of his destiny.
Against Erigaisi, Firouzja adopted a measured approach and safely navigated the game into a rook-and-pawn endgame. The Indian Grandmaster found little scope to create winning chances as the contest ended in a 41-move draw, confirming Firouzja as the champion.
The title earned the Frenchman a winner's purse of Rs 25 lakh. His unbeaten run of two wins and five draws underlined a campaign built on consistency rather than risk, with his early victories providing the platform for success.
Andreikin, the only other unbeaten player in the tournament, finished joint second with Erigaisi on four points.
Abdusattorov, along with Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and M Pranesh, shared fourth place on 3.5 points.
World champion D Gukesh's struggles continued as he finished at the bottom of the eight-player standings with two points after losing three of his seven games. The Indian signed off with a draw against American Grandmaster Hans Niemann but was unable to recover from a difficult week.
Round 7 results
GM D Gukesh (2) drew with GM Hans Niemann (3)
GM Nihal Sarin (3.5) drew with GM M Pranesh (3.5)
GM Alireza Firouzja (4.5) drew with GM Arjun Erigaisi (4)
GM Dmitry Andreikin (4) beat GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (3.5)
