Germany’s Keymer claims Chennai Grand Masters title

Germany’s Vincent Keymer claimed the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 title after he overcame a clutch of nervy moments to hold Dutch GM Jorden van Foreest to a draw in the eighth round here on Thursday.
In a tense endgame, Keymer was one wrong move away from stumbling to a defeat, which would have kept the title race alive for the final round on Friday, according to Starsports report. But he held his nerve to claim a draw, preserving his unbeaten run in the tournament and his 1.5-point lead atop the standings.
Keymer’s triumph was assured after joint-second-placed Indian GMs Karthikeyan Murali and Arjun Erigaisi were tied to draws in the eighth round, meaning the German’s score can’t be surpassed on the final day. Elsewhere, India’s Pranav V. shared the spoils with American GM Ray Robson, whose compatriot Awonder Liang played out a draw with Dutch GM Anish Giri.
Ultimately, all eyes were on the Keymer-van Foreest board, which witnessed dramatic action towards the close, after a sterile opening and middle game. After entering the endgame with three pawns and a bishop each, van Foreest sacrificed pieces for positional advantage. The Dutch GM boxed his opponent into a corner, with a visibly jittery and reddening Keymer also struggling with a fast-dwindling clock.
The pressure reached its zenith ahead of Keymer’s 44th move, where anything other than g6 would have resigned him to a defeat.
For a few seconds, it appeared like Keymer had failed to find that match-saving line as the excitement levels at the viewing arena surged to fever pitch.
Arjun Erigaisi (R) played out his fourth consecutive draw of the tournament, after sharing points with compatriot Vidit Gujrathi in a tame encounter.
Arjun Erigaisi (R) played out his fourth consecutive draw of the tournament, after sharing points with compatriot Vidit Gujrathi in a tame encounter. | Photo Credit: RAGU R/The Hindu
But the 20-year-old soon mapped out his only escape route and quickly stitched the requisite moves needed for the draw.
“It’s just that I missed the Bishop d1 idea, which is really something you shouldn’t miss. I had many ways to force a draw. I opted exactly for this way, which is a miracle. I’m glad I managed to focus myself back onto the game and find the only drawing way. Just missing this Bishop d1 idea, it’s crazy, especially in such a moment,” said a relieved Keymer after the game.
Meanwhile, Erigaisi played out his fourth consecutive draw of the tournament, after sharing points with compatriot Vidit Gujrathi in a tame encounter that lasted just over two hours.
Following a Queen’s Gambit Declined opening, Erigaisi and Gujrathi blazed through the middle game. Before move 15, the two players had all major pieces on the board. In eight moves, they were reduced to a rook each, rendering the game a drawn one.
“There was one slight miscalculation where I gave the pawn on d4. But he had a tactic that I saw only after I played the move. Then I had to go all-in and sacrifice my knight. That oversight could have been costly. Luckily, the position was very complex,” said Gujrathi after the game.
In contrast, Karthikeyan’s half-a-point came from a far more chaotic encounter, against Nihal Sarin, in a game that lasted 61 moves.
In the Challengers section, M Pranesh will head into the final day as the sole leader, with 6.5 points, after he beat D Harika on Thursday. Abhimanyu Puranik and Leon Luke Mendonca are in hot pursuit of Pranesh, with six points each.