Chennai Grand Masters 2024: Aravindh Chithambaram Shakes Up Title Race

Aravindh Chithambaram disrupted Arjun Erigaisi's unbeaten streak, altering the Chennai Grand Masters 2024 title chase. Arjun Erigaisi and Levon Aronian share the lead with four points, while Vidit Gujrathi drew against Aronian. With competitive performances all around, the tournament sees a thrilling battle in both the Masters and Challengers categories.

Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram ended Arjun Erigaisi's unbeaten run, injecting new excitement into the Chennai Grand Masters 2024 title battle. On Sunday, Vidit Gujrathi managed a draw against Levon Aronian in a tense Round 6. The three top players—Erigaisi, Aronian, and Chithambaram—are tied with four points each, as Amin Tabatabaei trails by half a point.

This year's Masters, with an average rating of 2729, showcases heightened competition. Notably, the debut of the Challengers offers a platform for promising Indian talent to participate in a high-caliber event. Aravindh Chithambaram, playing with white pieces, exploited Arjun's slip in the 16th and 17th moves, ultimately clinching a full victory in 48 moves.

Meanwhile, Levon Aronian had the opportunity to surpass Arjun but accepted a draw after 70 moves against Vidit, who expertly defended with only two kings remaining. Other matches saw GM Alexy Sarana holding GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, while Amin could not penetrate GM Parham Maghsoodloo's defenses. In the Challengers section, GM Pranav V leads despite two consecutive draws, with a significant performance from GM Leon Mendonca in Round 6.

(With inputs from agencies.)