Alireza Firouzja clinches Chennai Grand Masters; Gukesh finishes last

Alireza Firouzja emerged as the champion of the Chennai Grand Masters, sealing the title after a final-round draw with Indian grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi. World champion D Gukesh had a difficult tournament, ending in last place.

The French grandmaster concluded the event with 4.5 points, accumulated from two victories and five draws. Firouzja’s half-point in the closing round against Erigaisi was sufficient to confirm his top position on the standings. Another notable result was that Sergey Andreikin finished the tournament as the only other player to remain unbeaten.

Firouzja’s result reflected consistency across the event, with his sequence of outcomes producing the 4.5-point total. The draw with Arjun Erigaisi in the final round was the decisive result that sealed the title for the Frenchman. Those two wins combined with five draws were the exact components of his scoreline.

Arjun Erigaisi was the opponent in the decisive game of the final round, agreeing to a draw that left Firouzja clear at the summit. That result ensured Firouzja could not be overtaken on the leaderboard and confirmed the championship outcome. The pairing in the last round therefore played a pivotal role in determining the tournament winner.

Sergey Andreikin’s tournament ended with the distinction of being the only other unbeaten participant. While he did not claim the title, his avoidance of defeat set him apart in the field. The notation of unbeaten status for two competitors highlighted the defensive solidity shown by both players across their games.

In contrast to those unbeaten campaigns, world champion D Gukesh endured a disappointing run and finished at the foot of the standings. The final placement marked a stark reversal of the form typically associated with the reigning world champion.

Firouzja’s victory at the Chennai Grand Masters was confirmed by the final-round draw, his 4.5-point total derived from two wins and five draws. The tournament also left Andreikin as the only other unbeaten participant, while Gukesh completed the event in last place.