Arjun Erigaisi beats Hans Niemann to climb to second place in Chennai chess event
Chennai: Arjun Erigaisi showcased his tactical brilliance on Saturday, defeating Hans Niemann in a 43-move game to move into sole second place at a prestigious eight-player chess tournament here. The win lifted Erigaisi to within half a point of tournament leader Alireza Firouzja, who was held to a draw by Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin.
The 20-year-old Indian's victory was the first by any of the four Indian participants in the event. Earlier in the tournament, Erigaisi had held an edge against Dmitry Andreikin in round one and Nodirbek Abdusattorov in round two but could not convert those advantages into full points.
In Saturday's other games, world champion Gukesh D drew with Andreikin, while Indian grandmaster Pranesh M held Abdusattorov to a draw. The results kept the Indian contingent competitive in the field, which includes several top-ranked players.
During a lighter moment before his game, Erigaisi, when asked about the upcoming FIFA World Cup final, admitted he does not follow football and declined to predict a winner. But on the chessboard, he showed no hesitation, outmanoeuvring Niemann in a finely crafted endgame.
The tournament continues on Sunday with the remaining rounds, as Erigaisi looks to close the gap on leader Firouzja.
