India Chess Wrap, May 14: Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh see contrasting fortunes; Nihal jumps to fourth

R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh played out draws in Round 7 of the Grand Chess Tour: Superbet Chess Classic in Romania. However, their standings tell different stories. Praggnanandhaa currently shares the lead with three others on four points, placing him in a strong joint-fourth position.

In contrast, Gukesh is yet to score, marking a surprising dip in form following his triumph over Ding Liren in the World Championship. Meanwhile, at the Asian Individual Chess Championships, Nihal Sarin made a significant leap from tenth to fourth place after an impressive Round 8 victory over S.P. Sethuraman.

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Demonstrating precise calculation and sustained pressure, Nihal converted a promising middlegame into a comfortable win. He now shares second place with Narayanan Sunilduth Lyna on six points, firmly positioning himself in contention as the tournament enters its final rounds.

Vaishali draws with Tan

In the ongoing FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, R Vaishali had a chance to move to the top of the standings in her Round 8 game against World Championship runner-up Tan Zhongyi, but instead settled for a solid draw. She now sits in fourth place, just one point behind Anna Muzychuk, who leads with 5.5 points.

Vaishali chose a safe approach with the Ruy Lopez opening and developed her pieces steadily. Tan responded with some sharp kingside play, but Vaishali stayed calm and defended accurately. As the match moved into the middlegame, the positions became simpler. By move 35, queens and several other pieces were off the board, leaving both players with just rooks and pawns.

The endgame was balanced, with no clear winning chances for either side. Tan looked for opportunities with her rook, but Vaishali held firm. After a series of repeated moves, the game ended in a draw. It was a well-played encounter with smart decisions and solid play from both sides. Tan is currently third with 5 points. The final round will be played on May 15.