Pranesh beats Gukesh, Nihal gets the better of Arjun in Round 6 of Chennai GMs tournament

GM M Pranesh inflicted a second straight loss on world champion D Gukesh while GM Nihal Sarin defeated compatriot Arjun Erigaisi in the penultimate round of the fourth edition of the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2026, India’s most prestigious classical chess tournament, at The Westin Chennai Velachery hotel in Chennai on Tuesday.

Erigaisi’s defeat meant that French GM Alireza Firouzja, who drew his Round 6 game against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, is in sole lead with 4 points. Erigaisi and Abdusattorov are in joint second place with 3.5 points.

Arjun beats world champion Gukesh with black to jump to joint lead in Chennai GMs 2026

After Narendra Kumar, Managing Trustee of Chola Foundation and WGM Aarthie Ramaswamy made the first ceremonial move, it looked like Gukesh could finally score a win. But the world champion erred more than once with his calculations and Pranesh made the most of these opportunities to register his first win of the competition in 39 moves.

A brilliant rook sacrifice by Nihal Sarin turned the game decisively in his favour and Arjun Erigaisi resigned after 60 moves. Pics: MGD1

Erigaisi needed just a draw against Nihal Sarin to stay in joint lead with Firouzja and for the most part of their game, that result looked a distinct possibility. But a brilliant rook sacrifice by Nihal turned the game decisively in his favour and Erigaisi resigned after 60 moves.

Organised by MGD1, the tournament witnesses eight grandmasters face off in a round-robin format and offers a prize purse of ₹ 75,00,000 and valuable FIDE Circuit points.

Results (Round 6):  GM Hans Niemann (2.5) drew with GM Dmitry Andreikin (3); GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (3.5) drew with GM Alireza Firouzja (4); GM Arjun Erigaisi (3.5) lost to GM Nihal Sarin (3); GM M Pranesh (3) beat GM D Gukesh (1.5).
Round 7 Pairings (July 22, 2 pm IST): GM D Gukesh vs GM Hans Niemann; GM Nihal Sarin vs GM M Pranesh; GM Alireza Firouzja vs GM Arjun Erigaisi; GM Dmitry Andreikin vs GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov.