German Vincent Keymer capped a memorable triumph within the Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters chess match 2025 with a convincing win within the remaining spherical of the Masters part over American GM Ray Robson right here on Friday.
As unstoppable as Keymer was within the match, Indian GM M. Pranesh emerged champion within the Challenger class, although he suffered a defeat by the hands of IM G.B. Harshavardhan within the ninth and remaining spherical. Pranesh was helped by the truth that title contenders Leon Luke Mendonca and Abhimanyu Puranik fell to B. Adhiban and Pa. Iniyan, respectively.
Pranesh misplaced to Harshavardhan within the remaining spherical.
| Photo Credit:
B. VELANKANNI RAJ
In the Masters occasion, Keymer’s defeat of Robson enabled him to complete unbeaten within the match (seven factors). During his splendid run right here, the 20-year-old additionally entered the highest 10 in world rating (stay rankings) for the primary time in his profession.
“I think this is my best performance in a classical tournament. It’s just a very nice feeling to play good chess, and the event has gone fantastically. I do have the habit of ruining very nice tournaments. I was dangerously close to repeating that same mistake yesterday [Thursday]. Very glad I didn’t go that far,” mentioned Keymer.
Keymer pounced on a mid-game error from Robson to show an equal recreation in his favour. The German GM then closed out the match shortly to register his fifth win of the championship.
Meanwhile, Dutchman Anish Giri snapped his eight-game draw streak, outwitting compatriot Jorden van Foreest. The win allowed Anish to complete joint second, together with India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Karthikeyan Murali, who performed out a 49-move draw within the remaining spherical.
Action within the Challengers part saved the goodly crowd for the main a part of the day. After the thrills and spills and chaos, Pranesh was topped the champion.
The outcomes: Ninth and remaining spherical: Masters: Arjun Erigaisi (5) drew with Karthikeyan Murali (5); Awonder Liang (USA, 4.5) drew with Vidit Gujrathi (4); Jorden van Foreest (Ned, 4) misplaced to Anish Giri (Ned, 5); Ray Robson (USA, 3) misplaced to Vincent Keymer (Ger, 7); Nihal Sarin (4.5) bt V. Pranav (3).
Challengers: M. Pranesh (6.5) misplaced to G.B. Harshavardhan (4); Aryan Chopra (4) bt D. Harika (1.5); Diptayan Ghosh (4.5) bt R. Vaishali (1); Pa. Iniyan (5.5) bt Abhimanyu Puranik (6); B. Adhiban (6) bt Leon Luke Mendonca (6).
Final standings: Masters: 1. Keymer, 2. Anish, Arjun, Karthikeyan, 5. Nihal, Liang, 7. Vidit, van Foreest, 9. Pranav, Robson.
Challengers: 1. Pranesh, 2. Adhiban, Abhimanyu, Mendonca, 5. Iniyan, 6. Diptayan, 7. Harshavardhan, Aryan, 9. Harika, 10. Vaishali.
