Alireza Firouzja Wins Chennai Grand Masters, Erigaisi Finishes Runner-Up

French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja underlined his return to top form by winning the fourth edition of the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters, holding India's Arjun Erigaisi to a draw in the final round on Wednesday to clinch one of the country's most prestigious classical chess titles. The victory, which comes shortly after his triumph at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia, further cements Firouzja's position among the world's elite players.

Competing in the eight-player round-robin tournament, Firouzja remained unbeaten throughout the event, finishing with 4.5 points after recording two victories and five draws in seven rounds. His consistent performance earned him the championship, a ₹25 lakh prize, and valuable FIDE Circuit points, which play a significant role in qualification for future World Championship cycle events.

Firouzja seized control of the tournament early with back-to-back victories over M Pranesh and reigning World Champion D Gukesh, giving him a cushion that proved decisive. Entering the final round, he held a half-point lead over Arjun Erigaisi and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The title race tilted firmly in his favour after Dmitry Andreikin defeated Abdusattorov in 37 moves, leaving Firouzja needing only a draw. The Frenchman comfortably secured that result in 41 moves against Erigaisi in a rook-and-pawn endgame.

Erigaisi finished joint runner-up with Andreikin on 4 points, with the Russian also ending the tournament unbeaten. Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nihal Sarin, and M Pranesh shared fourth place with 3.5 points each. Nihal impressed with a victory over Erigaisi during the tournament, while Pranesh registered one of the biggest upsets by defeating Gukesh.

The tournament proved disappointing for World Champion D Gukesh, who finished at the bottom of the standings with 2 points, suffering defeats against Firouzja, Erigaisi, and Pranesh. Widely regarded as India's premier classical super tournament, the Chennai Grand Masters once again showcased elite international competition, with Firouzja's unbeaten campaign standing out as the defining performance of the week.