Fans flocked to see India’s young chess stars—D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi—at the ongoing Chess World Cup. Only Arjun managed a win in the second round, while Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa were held to tough draws.
Day of mixed results
Gukesh’s marathon 84-move draw with Kazakhstan’s Nogerbek was a highlight, while Arjun defeated Bulgaria’s Martin Petrov convincingly in 37 moves. Praggnanandhaa split points with Australia’s Temur Kuybokarov.
Indian dominance continues
Despite draws, India remains dominant at the event, with several players including V. Pranav and P. Harikrishna progressing steadily. The growing fan turnout underscores India’s deepening love affair with chess.
