Giant-killer: Firouzja beat Gukesh in round two of the Chennai Grand Masters.
| Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ
Alireza Firouzja made heads turn at last month’s Norway Chess – playing his matches bound to a wheelchair after hurting his ankle in a fall. Despite the difficulties, he took third spot in Oslo and later won the Grand Chess Tour title in Zagreb.
He is now in the city for the Chennai Grand Masters and has got off to the best possible start – with World champion D. Gukesh being the victim in round two.
“I had to do a lot of physio, but it was not broken… it was just twisted,” the Frenchman said ahead of the tournament.
The 23-year-old, who is rated very highly by the World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, said he tried to keep things simple and set a goal in every tournament he plays.
Firouzja, who chose not to play in the World Cup in Goa last year, feeling it was ‘too long an event’, said he could consider it in future given the format change.
About Gukesh’s faltering fortunes and former World champion Ding Liren opting for a break after he was supplanted, and if it was taking a toll, the lanky French GM said: “I have never been world champion… but they give a lot for the matches, and it takes a lot of energy.”
He said the thought of taking a break had never crossed his mind despite some like Gata Kamsky, Liren and others choosing to do so, apparently due to the pressure of competing constantly.
He said he gave equal importance to all the formats (classical, rapid and blitz) and added that he also strove to give his best.
For now, his priority is to do well at the tournament here having started with a bang.
Published – July 18, 2026 07:16 pm IST
