The Tata Steel Chess India Rapid tournament witnessed dramatic developments as Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi suffered an unexpected early exit while young talent Karthik Venkataraman delivered an impressive performance in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Vidit Gujrathi's Surprising Elimination
In a major upset that shocked the chess community, Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi was eliminated from the tournament despite starting with a victory. The world number 25 Indian player began his campaign strongly by defeating Armenian GM Haik Martirosyan in the opening round.
However, Vidit's fortunes took a dramatic turn as he suffered consecutive losses against lower-rated opponents. He first fell to Indian GM Karthik Venkataraman, ranked significantly below him, and then faced another defeat against Poland's Radoslaw Wojtaszek. This series of unexpected results ended Vidit's tournament hopes prematurely.
Karthik Venkataraman's Remarkable Performance
The standout story of the day was GM Karthik Venkataraman's spectacular performance that included his victory over the much higher-rated Vidit Gujrathi. Karthik demonstrated exceptional skill and composure against his accomplished opponent, causing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Karthik's impressive run didn't stop there. He went on to secure another significant victory against Armenian GM Haik Martirosyan, further establishing his strong position in the competition. His consistent performance against higher-rated players marked him as one of the revelations of the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid event.
Tournament Standings and Other Key Matches
As the dust settled on Tuesday's intense battles, Arjun Erigaisi emerged as the sole leader with a perfect score of 3/3 points. The Indian Grandmaster demonstrated dominant form throughout the day's matches.
Other notable performances included D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, who both remained in strong contention with 2/3 points each. The competition remains fierce with several rounds still to play in the prestigious tournament being held at the National Library in Kolkata.
The Tata Steel Chess India tournament continues to showcase the growing strength of Indian chess talent while providing thrilling moments for chess enthusiasts across the country. With unexpected results already shaping the competition, fans can anticipate more exciting developments in the coming days.
