FIDE Grand Swiss: Gukesh held by 14-year-old Erdogmus; Vaishali in joint lead in womens part

World Champion D Gukesh was held to a draw by 14-year-old Yagiz Khan Erdogmus of Turkey, whereas defending champion R Vaishali excelled on the expense of Eline Roebers of Holland within the second spherical of the FIDE Grand Swiss right here on Friday.

In the open part, Gukesh squandered a successful place in opposition to Erdogmus and ultimately needed to accept a attract a dramatic, time-troubled encounter.

But prime seeded Praggnanandhaa scored his first victory within the occasion, defeating Ivan Zenlyanskiii who’s taking part in beneath the FIDE flag as a result of Russia is banned.

In the open part of this 855000 USD prize cash occasions, Alireza Firouzja of France, Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran and Anton Demchenko of Slovenia share the lead on two factors every.

Vaishali joined the main group in girls’s part along with her back-to-back victories on two factors from as many video games and she or he now shares the highest slot with Olga Bedelka of Austria.

Given the energy of their rankings, Vaishali is poised to take the only lead within the occasion she had gained two years again and had given an indication of Indian girls’s chess.

This is the fourth version of the Grand Swiss, with the highest two gamers in each sections set to qualify for the eight-player 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournaments that resolve the following world championship challengers.

The USD 625,000 Open part (USD 90,000 for first place) has 116 gamers, with the sphere topped by the Indian triumvirate of GMs Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and Gukesh.