Frenchman Firouzja begins campaign with win over M Pranesh in Chennai Grand Masters

French Grand Master Alireza Firouzja registered the sole win of the opening day of the fourth edition of the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2026, India’s most prestigious classical chess tournament, against Indian GM M Pranesh at the Westin Hotel in Chennai on Thursday.

Firouzja, playing black, defeated Pranesh in a marathon game that last 79 moves with the Frenchman making the most of his pawn on f-file in a rook-pawn ending.

In the day’s other matches, world champion D Gukesh was held to a draw by GM Nihal Sarin in an all-Indian clash while GM Arjun Erigaisi split the point with GM Dmitry Andreikin after just 42 moves.

Arjun Erigaisi split the point with GM Dmitry Andreikin after just 42 moves in the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2026. Pics: MGD1

The only clash not involving an Indian GM, between Nodirbek Abdusattorov and GM Hans Niemann ended in a draw after 44 moves.

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

Results (Round I): GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov drew GM Hans Niemann 0.5-0.5; GM Arjun Erigaisi drew GM Dmitry Andreikin 0.5-0.5; GM M Pranesh lost to GM Alireza Firouzja 0-1; GM D Gukesh drew GM Nihal Sarin 0.5-0.5.

Round 2 pairing (July 17):  GM Hans Niemann vs GM Nihal Sarin; GM Alireza Firouzja vs GM D Gukesh; GM Dmitry Andreikin bs GM M Pranesh; GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs GM Arjun Erigaisi.