Firouzja beats Gukesh to lead Chennai Grand Masters

French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja defeated world champion Dommaraju Gukesh in a tense endgame on Friday, July 17, securing his second consecutive victory and taking sole lead at the Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament. The win at the Westin Hotel in Chennai propelled Firouzja to the top of the standings with a perfect two points after two rounds of the prestigious double-round-robin event.

Firouzja, playing with the white pieces, opted for a Ruy Lopez opening against the Indian world champion. The game evolved into a complex struggle, with the advantage shifting several times as both players navigated a difficult middlegame under time pressure. A series of exchanges eventually led to a knight and pawn endgame where Gukesh appeared to have drawing chances. However, a critical pawn sacrifice by Firouzja on move 58 created an opening, allowing him to capture a key central pawn and subsequently create two connected passed pawns on the kingside. Gukesh resigned after 69 moves.

The defeat marks a setback for Gukesh in his first competitive appearance in Chennai since becoming the youngest world champion in December 2024. He remains on half a point from two games. Firouzja, who...