After inking $1.5 mn sponsorship deal, Telangana’s chess GM Arjun targets world title

Grandmaster Arjun Kumar Erigaisi has had a great run in the international chess arena in 2021 and 2022

Hyderabad: GM Arjun Erigaisi became the first Indian player to win a game in the fourth edition of the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2026, India’s most prestigious classical chess tournament, when he convincingly defeated GM Hans Niemann of USA in round 3 in Chennai on Friday.

Arjun, who drew his first two matches, kept the pressure over Niemann after gaining the advantage in the middle game and tightened the noose around his opponent’s King, forcing him to resign after 43 moves.

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

Arjun’s win took him to sole second position in the standings with 2 points, half a point behind GM Alireza Firouzja. The Frenchman, who had won the first two rounds, survived some anxious movements before holding GM Nihal Sarin to a draw with black pieces in 53 moves.

Meanwhile, Chess Influencer Suthershun Asokan also known as Goofygenchess on Instagram made the opening move in the match between world champion D Gukesh and GM Dmitry Andreikin. The Indian tried his best to dismantle the defence of his opponent thereafter but had to settle for a draw with white piece after 54 moves as both players only had their kings left on the board.

M Pranesh also split the point against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov after just 27 moves by repetition after it was clear that he had little chance to eke out a win.

Important results:

3rd round:

GM Arjun Erigaisi (2) bt GM Hans Niemann (1); GM M Pranesh (1) drew with GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (1.5); GM D Gukesh (1) drew with GM Dmitry Andreikin (1.5); GM Nihal Sarin (1.5) drew with GM Alireza Firouzja (2.5).