Bibisara Stuns Erigaisi Before Indian Star Fights Back at Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot

Erigaisi Bounces Back After Shock Loss

Indian grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi suffered a surprising defeat to Kazakh women’s world number seven Bibisara Assaubayeva in the opening Fast Classical game at the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot on Thursday, but fought back to claim victory in the reverse fixture later the same day.

Playing with the white pieces, Erigaisi, ranked world number 12 and rated over 200 points above Bibisara, enjoyed a strong opening position. However, Bibisara’s advancing pawns proved decisive as she secured the upset win. Erigaisi responded confidently in the second game with Black, claiming his own victory. Both players finished the day on five points in Group D.

Erigaisi currently sits third in Group D, trailing Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Hans Niemann, who each hold eight points.

Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali Struggle

The sibling duo of R Praggnanandhaa and R Vaishali endured a tough day, with both losing their two games on Thursday.

In Group B, Praggnanandhaa fell to Fabiano Caruana in both encounters. Playing with White, Caruana sacrificed a piece to crack open Praggnanandhaa’s defences and won comfortably before adding a second victory with the black pieces. Having drawn both games on day one, Praggnanandhaa slipped to the last place in his group on two points, while Caruana surged to 10 points.

Vaishali, competing in Group D, was defeated by Hans Niemann in both games. With one draw and three losses, she remains at the foot of Group D.

Carlsen Continues Winless Streak

World number one Magnus Carlsen’s scoreless run in the Fast Classical event persisted as he was held to two draws by 17-year-old American grandmaster Abhimanyu Mishra in Group C. Mishra pressed for a win in their second encounter with White but could not break through, much to his disappointment. Carlsen has now drawn all four Fast Classical games and sits on four points, while Mishra has three.

Martirosyan and Nepomniachtchi Lead Group C

Haik Martirosyan recovered from an opening loss to Anish Giri with a decisive win in their return match, lifting him to six points and level with Ian Nepomniachtchi at the top of Group C. Giri, whose attack secured victory in just 26 moves with White, remains on five points. Nepomniachtchi drew both games against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who also finishes the day on five points.

• Bibisara Assaubayeva defeats Erigaisi in first encounter, both finish on five points
• Caruana dominates Praggnanandhaa, reaching 10 points in Group B
• Carlsen held twice by teenaged Mishra, still winless in Fast Classical
• Martirosyan and Nepomniachtchi lead Group C on six points each

Source

This report is based on information published by The Bridge — Chess.

Official source: https://thebridge.in/chess/total-cships-bibisara-stuns-arjun-fight-back-58353