Sanan scores the sole victory

Vishy Anand made the inaugural first move of Chennai Grand Masters 2023 on D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi's board
Vishy Anand makes the inaugural first move on D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi's board | Video: ChessBase India
Vishy Anand on India's strongest Classical Super Tournament, Vaishali becoming GM, Vidit and S L Narayanan in their phenomenal form and more | Video: ChessBase India

Chennai Grand Masters 2023 Official logo
India no.5 vs no.4 - Gukesh vs Arjun | Chennai Grand Masters 2023 | Video: ChessBase India

D Gukesh - Arjun Erigaisi: 0.5-0.5

Predke - Harikrishna: 0.5-0.5

GM Pentala Harikrishna (2696) faced GM Aleksandr Predke (SRB, 2689) for the first time in a rated game.

Position after 26.Kf3??

White blundered in the endgame 26.Kf3?? It allowed Ng4 27.h3 Rxa3+! if White takes Bxa3 then Ne5+ forks the king and rook, Black has managed to avert a difficult endgame.

Aleksandar Predke (SRB) missed a good opportunity against the endgame expert - Pentala Harikrishna

Eljanov - Sanan: 0-1

The sole Classical rated game between GM Sanan Sjugirov (HUN, 2703) and GM Pavel Eljanov (UKR, 2691) ended in a draw earlier this summer in Budapest, Hungary.

Position after 34.Qd6

34.Qd6 was probably the final mistake by White. Trading queens only helps Black to push his c-pawn faster with little to no resistance. 34...Qxd6 35.Rxd6 c4 36.Rxb6 c3 37.Rxb7 Rc8 38.Ra7 c2 39.Ra1 c1Q 40.Rxc1 Rxc1 the resultant exchange down endgame was practically difficult to defend. Soon, White misplayed and went on to lose the game.

Sanan Sjugirov's amazing Endgame technique to beat Eljanov - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India
"Does Anish also think the same?" Sanan Sjugirov to Sopiko! | Video: ChessBase India

Sanan Sjugirov (HUN) scored his first-ever Classical victory over Pavel Eljanov (UKR)

Levon Aronian (USA) - Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI): 0.5-0.5

D Gukesh and Vishy Anand met at a tournament hall for the first time since trading India no.1 position

Vishy Anand joined IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal for a brief while for the live commentary of the second round

Vishy Anand is such a gentleman of the sport that he waited for Pavel Eljanov's fairplay check to be over, to make his inaugural first move

Live audience following the commentary live in-person at the venue. Can you spot the titled players in the audience?

For more photos, please click here.

Video Gallery

Vishy Anand's huge fan Base in Chennai | Video: ChessBase India
The day of Gukesh vs Arjun | IM Sagar Shah's Round 2 recap of Chennai Grand Masters 2023 | Video: ChessBase India
The amazing breakfast spread at the Leela Palace Hotel | Video: ChessBase India

Those who wish to spectate the tournament at the venue, please click here and check the procedure.

Replay Round 2 live stream

Replay Chennai Grand Masters 2023 Round 2 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal with Guest Commentators - GM Anish Giri and IM Sopiko Guramishvili | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 2 games

Round 2 results

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.PGN
182720
GMGukesh, D½ - ½GMErigaisi, Arjun
27275PGN
262689
GMPredke, Alexandr½ - ½GMHarikrishna, Pentala
26964PGN
372691
GMEljanov, Pavel0 - 1GMSjugirov, Sanan
27033PGN
412723
GMAronian, Levon½ - ½GMMaghsoodloo, Parham
27422PGN

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
13
GMSjugirov, SananHUN27031,501,5011
24
GMHarikrishna, PentalaIND26961,501,0010
36
GMPredke, AlexandrSRB2689101,5000
41
GMAronian, LevonUSA2723100,7500
8
GMGukesh, DIND2720100,7500
67
GMEljanov, PavelUKR2691100,5011
72
GMMaghsoodloo, ParhamIRI27420,500,5000
5
GMErigaisi, ArjunIND27270,500,5000

Details

Round 3 pairings

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.PGN
122742
GMMaghsoodloo, ParhamGMGukesh, D
27208
232703
GMSjugirov, SananGMAronian, Levon
27231
342696
GMHarikrishna, PentalaGMEljanov, Pavel
26917
452727
GMErigaisi, ArjunGMPredke, Alexandr
26896

Details

Links

MGD1

Nodwin Gaming

ChessBase India