Tata Metal Chess 2025: D Gukesh loses to Arjun Erigaisi in remaining spherical, suffers first defeat as world champion

D Gukesh suffered his first defeat since being
topped the youngest chess world champion in December, shedding to compatriot Arjun Erigaisi within the Tata Metal Chess match on Sunday. Gukesh, who had defeated Chinese language Grandmaster Ding Liren to be topped the 18th and youngest chess world champion in Singapore in December, ended up shedding to Arjun regardless of taking part in with white items, resigning in 31 strikes.

This was after he started with a King’s Pawn Opening that developed right into a Petrov’s Protection: Classical Variation, and performed a few good strikes (9. Bg2; 13. d4), initiating a bishop change within the 14th transfer. Issues, nonetheless, began going downhill for the 18-year-old GM after he negated the promising begin with a few questionable strikes (18. Rd1; 20. Bf4).

Gukesh’s King and Queen had been finally cornered by Arjun’s rooks alongside the ‘H’ file (1 and a pair of) within the thirty first transfer, and at that time, it was sport over for him.
Gukesh had not too long ago surpassed Arjun because the highest-ranked Indian participant, however on Sunday, it was the latter who gave his good good friend a reminder of the ability and mindset that made him among the finest gamers globally within the present technology.

🇮🇳 Gukesh D 0-1 Arjun Erigaisi 🇮🇳

🇮🇳 Gukesh D suffers his first loss since changing into World Champion, shedding to 🇮🇳 Arjun Erigaisi within the remaining spherical of Tata Metal Masters 2025.

That is Arjun’s second straight win. With this end result, 🇮🇳 Praggnanandhaa R can safe match… pic.twitter.com/WGQVjr6Znz

— Worldwide Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) February 2, 2025

Gukesh missed out on the chance to seal the Tata Metal Chess title with a victory, however wasn’t the one Indian ending on the shedding facet on Sunday.

R Praggnanandhaa, who was tied on 8.50 factors with Gukesh forward of the ultimate spherical with the 2 Indians sharing the highest spot within the Masters standings, misplaced to German grandmaster Vincent Keymer whereas taking part in with black items. Praggnanandhaa, who is barely a 12 months older than Gukesh, surrendered after waging a fierce battle that lasted until the eightieth transfer.

Whereas Arjun completed tenth with back-to-back wins after failing to win a single sport within the first 11 rounds, Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa remained tied on 8.50 factors after shedding their remaining video games. Nodirbek Abdusattorov may have joined the 2 and made it a three-way blitz tie-break for the title had he received his remaining sport.

The Uzbekistani GM, nonetheless, was held to a draw by India’s Pentala Harikrishna, that means both Gukesh or Praggnanandhaa would turn out to be solely the second Indian to win the celebrated match after the legendary Viswanathan Anand.