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Anish Giri Leads After Day 1 of Champions Chess Tour

2026-06-23 · Anish Giri · Match Report

Anish Giri is in the lead after Day 1 of the Champions Chess Tour with 4/5, a strong start to the tournament.

What happened on Day 1?

The first stage of the inaugural Champions Chess Tour season got underway with the Skilling Open, where Anish Giri ended the day on top of the table. Magnus Carlsen, the World Champion, suffered a horrendous mouse-slip that sunk him against Russian number 1 Ian Nepomniachtchi. Carlsen was in a winning position when the incident occurred, but was left aghast and immediately resigned.

How did Carlsen recover?

Carlsen followed up his loss with a draw against Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, a result that left him wondering if it would be a "very long day". He then won against Azerbaijan's top player Teimour Radjabov, Spanish Champion David Anton, and 17-year-old Alireza Firouzja.

What's next for Anish Giri?

Anish Giri fired a broadside at Carlsen, saying "In case Magnus is watching, he should already start his sleepless night, because he's playing me tomorrow". The 16 players are fighting it out in a round-robin stage to make the cut to the knockout, which starts with quarterfinals. Ding Liren, playing from China, survived the first disconnection of the tournament by reconnecting quickly and is placed equal eighth on 2.5/5. India's Vidit Gujrathi had 1.5 points in his kitty from 5 outings. Anish Giri's strong start has set up an exciting matchup between him and Carlsen, who will face off tomorrow. The tournament is being played online, with players competing from around the world. The Champions Chess Tour features a number of top players, including Anish Giri, Magnus Carlsen, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. The winner of the tournament will be crowned the champion of the inaugural Champions Chess Tour season.

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