Firouzja defeats World Champion Gukesh in 69-move Chennai Grand Masters clash

In the second round of the Chennai Grand Masters tournament, Iranian-born French grandmaster Alireza Firouzja defeated world champion D. Gukesh of India in a 69-move game. The victory places Firouzja alone at the top of the standings with two wins from two rounds, while Gukesh is tied at the bottom with half a point.

Firouzja, who has been recovering from an ankle injury that required physiotherapy, displayed strong form. He had previously withdrawn from the Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest and used a wheelchair during the Norway Chess tournament. In Chennai, he has shown significant improvement in mobility and performance.

The game featured several errors from both players. Analysis engines indicated that Firouzja gained a slight advantage by move 27, but an inaccuracy on the next move allowed Gukesh to equalize. Gukesh then made a mistake, giving Firouzja a winning position by move 31. However, a blunder from Firouzja on move 33 brought the game back to equality. Both players struggled with time pressure, and further mistakes led to a complex endgame. By move 39, Gukesh was down a pawn, and despite resilient defence, he eventually resigned on move 69.

Gukesh is known for his calculation skills but faces challenges in low-time situations. Firouzja, known for his intuitive play, often excels when time is short. The defeat leaves Gukesh with half a point after a draw in the first round against Nihal Sarin.

The tournament features eight players, including some of the strongest in classical chess. Firouzja's early lead puts him in a promising position for the remainder of the event.