Alireza Firouzja wins Chennai GM title after final-round draw with Arjun Erigaisi

French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja lifted the 2026 Chennai Grand Masters title on Wednesday after holding India’s Arjun Erigaisi to a draw in the seventh and final round.

The 22-year-old needed only a draw to secure first place. He signed peace after 41 moves to finish on 4.5 points from seven rounds, remaining unbeaten throughout the round-robin event at The Westin Chennai Velachery Hotel.

What happened in the final round?

Firouzja entered the last round half a point clear of Erigaisi and Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov. But Abdusattorov’s hopes ended when he lost to Russia’s Dmitry Andreikin in 37 moves with the black pieces. That left Firouzja needing only a draw against Erigaisi to seal the title.

He steered the game into a rook-and-pawn endgame before sharing the point. The victory earned him the Rs 25 lakh winner’s cheque-about USD 26,500-and valuable FIDE Circuit points.

How did the standings shake out?

Andreikin also went unbeaten and finished joint second on four points alongside Erigaisi. Abdusattorov shared fourth with Indian GMs Nihal Sarin and M. Pranesh, all on 3.5 points.

Reigning world champion D. Gukesh endured another tough week. He finished bottom with two points after losing three of his seven games. He drew his final-round game against American GM Hans Niemann.

What’s next for Firouzja?

The Frenchman’s unbeaten run in Chennai caps a strong start to the summer swing. With the title safely in his hands, Firouzja can now focus on the next FIDE Circuit stop.

His draw against Erigaisi kept him perfect in classical games at the event. The result lifts his momentum heading into the autumn swing of elite tournaments.

Key numbers from Chennai GM 2026

• Firouzja’s score: 4.5/7 (2 wins, 5 draws)
• Winner’s cheque: Rs 25 lakh (≈ USD 26,500)
• Prize purse: Rs 75 lakh
• Unbeaten finish: Firouzja and Andreikin