CHENNAI: D Gukesh inched closer to a Candidates spot after emerging victorious in the Chennai Grand Masters Chess Championship here on Thursday.
Gukesh was tied with compatriot Arjun Erigaisi for first place - both players had 4.5 points from seven rounds - but the former pipped the latter in tie-breaks. With the victory, the 17-yearold Gukesh moved to the top of the FIDE Circuit leaderboard and overtook his closest Candidates challenger Anish Giri (the Netherlands).
For Anish to go past Gukesh and seal a Candidates berth, he will have to come up with a strong show - likely a podium finish - at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from December 26 to 30. Anish is not one of the favourites to finish in the topthree and will have to play out of his skin to get the better of the heavyweights in the format.
After doing his job effectively at the Chennai Grand Masters and moving into pole position in the Circuit standings, Gukesh said: "I did not think about the rapid and blitz event. I was focused on performing well here and leaving the rest to Anish. I am relieved that I am back to playing good chess. That was the main thing I wanted to do in this tournament."
Gukesh, who is yet to decide on competing at the Rapid and Blitz Championships, added: "After the World Cup, things went horribly wrong for me. It was probably the phase where I was at my lowest. I was clearly not handling the Candidates pressure well. We had about 20 days between the Grand Swiss and London Classic, and I talked a lot with my coach Vishnu Prasanna. I felt much better and had more clarity after those conversations. I am still not at my best, but I have been playing much better when compared to the last few months."
Prasanna chipped in, saying: "We both knew that something was really wrong. We just tried to forget about the Candidates qualification. But it is not easy to do that. I think that Gukesh is getting back to his best now."
The Indians swept the podium at the Chennai Grand Masters, with Arjun and Pentala Harikrishna coming second and third respectively.
Results: Seventh and final round: Pentala Harikrishna drew with D Gukesh. Arjun Erigaisi bt Sanan Sjugirov. Alexandr Predke lost to Parham Maghsoodloo. Pavel Eljanov drew with Levon Aronian. Standings: 1. Gukesh (4.5 points). 2. Arjun (4.5). 3. Harikrishna (4). 4. Eljanov (4). 5. Aronian (3.5). 6. Maghsoodloo (3.5). 7. Sjugirov (2.5). 8. Predke (1.5)
