Alireza Firouzja crushes Pranesh M. in Chennai GM opener

Alireza Firouzja opens Chennai GM with 79-move demolition

Alireza Firouzja crushed Pranesh M. in their opening-round clash at the Chennai Grand Masters on July 16, grinding out a 79-move victory in five hours with the black pieces.

The Frenchman, fresh off a title in the Grand Chess Tour-Croatia leg, outlasted the young Indian in a marathon Sicilian Defence. Firouzja broke through after Pranesh’s 36th move, then held firm through mutual time pressure to pocket the full point.

How Firouzja turned the screw

Firouzja seized a slight edge from the opening, but Pranesh stayed in the game deep into the middlegame. The Indian cracked under the strain, allowing Firouzja to exploit a tactical gap and convert the advantage.

The win marks Firouzja’s first of the event, coming after a strong run in Croatia. He needed every minute of the five-hour marathon to close the deal.

The bigger picture in Chennai

Firouzja was the only winner on day one. World champion D. Gukesh was held to a draw by compatriot Nihal Sarin, while top seed Nodirbek Abdusattorov split the point with Hans Moke Niemann.

Arjun Erigaisi shared honours with Dmitry Andreikin after 42 moves. Abdusattorov weathered pressure from Niemann before settling for the draw, while Gukesh survived time trouble to neutralise Nihal’s initiative.

What’s next for Firouzja

Firouzja’s next outing will test his stamina after the long opener. The field now turns to round two, where he’ll face a fresh opponent under the Westin Velachery lights.

With a win already in the bank, Firouzja can push for a strong finish in his Chennai debut. The event runs in the city for the first time since Gukesh’s 2023 triumph, adding local stakes to every game.