Gukesh, Pragg held to draws by lower-rated GMs in their Chess World Cup openers
Malayali GMs S L Narayanan and Nihal Sarin also drew their respective first games in Round 2 of the FIDE Chess World Cup in Goa.
Malayali GMs S L Narayanan and Nihal Sarin also drew their respective first games in Round 2 of the FIDE Chess World Cup in Goa.
Malayali GMs S L Narayanan and Nihal Sarin also drew their respective first games in Round 2 of the FIDE Chess World Cup in Goa.
World champion D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa drew their opening games of FIDE Chess World Cup while India No 1 Arjun Erigaisi made a winning start to his campaign in Goa on Tuesday.
Gukesh, who received a bye in Round 1, drew with white pieces against Kazakh GM Kazybek Nogerbek, and Praggnanandhaa was held by Temur Kuybokarov, an Uzbekistani-Australian.
The opponents of both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa had at least 200 Elo points fewer than them. Erigaisi defeated Bulgarian Martin Petrov, another 2500+-rated GM.
Erigaisi can advance with a draw in the second game of his match-up with Petrov, while Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa will have to win their respective games to reach Round 3.
Meanwhile, Kerala GMs S L Narayanan and Nihal Sarin also drew their first games of Round 2, against GMs Nikita Vitiugov and Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis, respectively. The Malayali stars will also need to find a win in their second games tomorrow. If the match-up ends level after two games, tie-breakers will be played.
The FIDE Chess World Cup is an eight-round knockout event featuring some of the best players in the world. However, World No 1 Magnus Carlsen is not participating.