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Sports19-year-old Pranesh stuns World Champion Gukesh at Chennai Grand Masters
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In the sixth round of the Quantbox Chennai Grandmaster chess tournament, Indian teenager M. Pranesh (19) scored the biggest win of his career by defeating reigning World Champion D. Gukesh from a losing position. The 39-move victory lifted Pranesh to three points, while Gukesh remained at the bottom with 1.5 points, suffering his third loss of the tournament. Gukesh's live rating dropped to 2702.9, threatening his place in the elite 2700 club. In other matches, Arjun Erigaisi lost to compatriot Nihal Sarin, and Alireza Firouzja regained sole lead after drawing with Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Hans Niemann and Dmitry Andreikin drew their game. Pranesh attributed his win to confidence and suggested the pressure of being world champion may be affecting Gukesh's play.
Source report
Arjun loses to compatriot Nihal; Firouzja regains sole lead after a stalemate with Abdusattorov; Niemann and Andreikin split the point
Published - July 21, 2026 09:57 pm IST - CHENNAI
By Shyam Sundar
M. Pranesh posted the best win of his career by taking out World champion D. Gukesh at the Quantbox Chennai Grandmaster chess tournament in Chennai on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ
It is not every day that you beat a reigning World champion, and that too from a losing position.
M. Pranesh, playing with white pieces, bounced back after finding himself in trouble to shock D. Gukesh in the sixth round of the Chennai Grand Masters at The Westin Chennai on Tuesday.
The 39-move victory for the 19-year-old pushed his tally to three points, while his compatriot stayed at the bottom with 1.5 points.
Overnight joint leader Arjun Erigaisi went down to Nihal Sarin in 61 moves, while France’s Alireza Firouzja was back in sole lead following a draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan.
Gukesh, whose struggles seem to be multiplying with each passing game and tournament, continued to sink further. It was his third defeat in the tournament.
The loss to Pranesh, the lowest-rated player in the field, saw his live rating dip to 2702.9. He is in danger of slipping out of the elite 2700-club if he meets a similar fate against American Hans Niemann in Wednesday’s final round.
For the second straight day, Gukesh let slip a winning position and allowed his opponent an opening. Pranesh did not let go of the opportunity offered on a platter.
Pranesh, who has been playing Gukesh since his younger days, said he was confident on the day and added that beating the World champion was the best win of his career. He also felt the pressure of being the World champion was probably affecting Gukesh’s play.
Results (Sixth Round)
- Hans Niemann (USA) 2.5 drew with Dmitry Andreikin (Rus) 3
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb) 3.5 drew with Alireza Firouzja (Fra) 4
- Arjun Erigaisi 3.5 lost to Nihal Sarin 3
- M. Pranesh 3 bt D. Gukesh 1.5
Source
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Chennai Grand Masters Chess Tournament Sees Firouzja and Erigaisi Lead