Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi Draw Twice in Fast Classical Opener

Indian Grandmasters R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi opened the fast classical section of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot with two draws each, finishing day two on two points apiece. Praggnanandhaa drew both games against Germany’s Vincent Keymer in Group B, while Erigaisi shared the points twice with American Hans Niemann in Group D on Wednesday.

The opening results left both Indian players well placed in their respective groups, although neither was able to convert the first day of the fast classical campaign into an outright win. The event’s fast classical format gives each player 45 minutes, with a 30-second increment from move one, making each two-game meeting an important early opportunity to establish position in the standings.

Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi hold their ground

Praggnanandhaa and Keymer remained level after their two Group B encounters, with each player ending the day on two points. Their shared tally placed them in a tie for second in the group.

Fabiano Caruana and Liem Le set the pace in Group B with four points each. Caruana began with a win over local favourite Richard Rapport while playing with the black pieces, before the return game ended in a draw. The American held top spot on the basis of his higher blitz ranking. Le also reached four points against Vladislav Artemiev, drawing the first game and winning the return encounter.

In Group D, Erigaisi’s two draws against Niemann placed both players among four competitors tied for second. Wesley So and Bibisara Assaubayeva were also part of that group on the same total. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave led the group after his opening-day results.

R Vaishali, the third Indian player competing, had a more difficult start in Group D. She lost her opening game to Vachier-Lagrave after a late error, then drew the return game. Vaishali ended the day with one point from two games and was placed last in the group. She is set to challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship title next year.

Other groups take shape in Budapest

Elsewhere, Alireza Firouzja and Jan-Krzysztof Duda shared the Group A lead with four points each. Firouzja won the opening game against Nodirbek Abdusattorov after capitalising on a critical mistake, then held a draw in the return game despite Abdusattorov creating winning chances. Duda matched that score by drawing his first game against Andrew Hong before winning the return game with White.

Ian Nepomniachtchi made the strongest opening in Group C, taking sole first place with four points. He defeated Abhimanyu Mishra in their first game before the American held him to a draw in the return encounter.

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, who won the blitz section on Tuesday, had to settle for two draws against Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri. Carlsen and Giri finished tied for third in Group C on two points each, leaving Nepomniachtchi ahead after the opening fast classical games.

For Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi, the two draws provide a stable start rather than a decisive advantage. Praggnanandhaa remains directly behind the Group B leaders alongside Keymer, while Erigaisi is part of a congested chase behind Vachier-Lagrave in Group D. With the fast classical section still developing, their next results will be central to whether those solid opening totals can become a push for the top of their groups.