Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh made a stunning comeback in the Superbet rapid and blitz tournament, part of the Grand Chess tour, after a slow start. The newly-crowned FIDE Candidates’ champion showed his resilience by defeating his compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa and German player Vincent Keymer in impressive fashion.
Gukesh, who initially struggled with just one draw out of three games, turned the tables by outplaying Praggnanandhaa in the first round of the day. Praggnanandhaa, on the other hand, bounced back strongly by defeating Anish Giri in the fifth round.
Meanwhile, World number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Romanian Kirill Shevchenko are leading the pack with seven points each, closely followed by Wei Yi of China. The Indian trio of Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Erigaisi Arjun are holding their ground in the fourth spot with five points each.
The tournament has seen some surprising results, with Shevchenko, the lowest seed, emerging as the early leader with three consecutive victories. With four more rounds to go in the rapid section before the blitz tournament kicks off, the competition is heating up.
Gukesh’s remarkable comeback and the intense battle for the top spots have added an exciting twist to the tournament, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. As the players gear up for the remaining rounds, the stage is set for more thrilling chess action in the days to come.