Grand Swiss 2025 R6: Nihal Sarin squashes Szymon Gumularz in 22 moves

by Shahid Ahmed - 10/09/2025

GM Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) drew against GM Arjun Erigaisi to maintain his sole lead 5/6 at FIDE Grand Swiss 2025. GM Nihal Sarin made a short work of GM Szymon Gumularz (POL) in 22 moves. GM Anish Giri (NED) stopped GM Marc` Andria Maurizzi's (FRA) winning streak by launching a devastating attack. The World Champion, GM D Gukesh suffered his second consecutive loss. This time against the Greece no.1, GM Nikolas Theodorou. The reigning World Junior champion, GM Pranav Venkatesh drew against the 44th Olympiad Gold medalist, GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB). The defending champion, GM Vidit Gujrathi ended his draw streak to pick up his second win of the event, against GM Anton Demchenko (SLO). Nihal will face the leader, Parham in Round 7. Today is the sole rest day. Round 7 starts tomorrow Thursday 11th September at 3 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Parham stays ahead of the rest, Gukesh suffers his second consecutive loss

Both World no.4 and 6, GM R Praggnanandhaa and GM D Gukesh are having a tough event. Praggnanandhaa was held to a draw by the four-time Azerbaijan champion, GM Rauf Mamedov. GM Abhimanyu Puranik and GM Aditya Mittal played hard-fought draws against GM Richard Rapport (HUN) and GM Boris Gelfand (ISR) respectively. Abhimanyu had a promising position in the endgame. However, he loosened his grip. GM Leon Luke Mendonca got the better of the Romania no.1, GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac after a 104-move-long grueling battle. The reigning FIDE Women's World Cup winner, GM Divya Deshmukh drew against the much higher rated GM Gabriel Sargissian (ARM). GM R Vaishali maintains her lead with GM Kateryna Lagno, as the former defeated IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE) who was coming into this game with a lot of momentum.

Who will stop the sole leader - GM Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI)? | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

GM Nihal Sarin soared to the top 4.5/5 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Parham - Arjun: 0.5-0.5

Iran no.1, GM Parham Maghsoodloo (2692) and World no.5, GM Arjun Erigaisi (2771) played six Classical rated games against each other. Both of them won a game each and the remaining four ended in draws. Their seventh battle was a solid draw.

Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) maintains his sole lead with a solid draw against Arjun Erigaisi | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Marc` - Giri: 0-1

GM Marc` Andria Maurizzi's (FRA, 2610) fantastic unbeaten run came to an end against GM Anish Giri (NED, 2746).

Position after 19...a4

19.f5? was not a good idea as Black immediately launched an attack of his own 19...a4 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.bxa4 Rxa4 22.Bh3 b3 23.c3 Nc5 24.Qe2 Qc6 25.Kd2 0-0 26.Rhf1 Rxf1 27.Qxf1 Qxe4 and Black won.

Anish Giri (NED) ended Marc` Andria Maurizzi's (FRA) winning streak | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Szymon - Nihal: 0-1

The only time GM Szymon Gumularz (POL, 2590) faced GM Nihal Sarin (2693) in a Classical rated game was nearly eight years ago. It had ended in a draw then. Both players have grown much stronger since then.

Position after 21.Rf4??

21.Rf4?? is a blunder. Nihal had no trouble finding Nc3! 22.Qf3 Ne2+!! and it's over.

Szymon Gumularz (POL) - Nihal Sarin, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

GM Nihal Sarin scored his third win of the event to move to 4.5/6 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) and Pranv Venkatesh had a hard-fought draw | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Praggnanandhaa - Rauf

Position after 25...Rxe3!

GM Rauf Mamedov (AZE, 2651) is a strong and sharp tactician. He is always on the lookout for wrecking his opponent's position. GM R Praggnanandhaa (2785) was presented no opportunity by the four-time Azerbaijan champion. 26.Ne4 Rxd3 27.Nxc5 Rxc5 28.Rxd7 Rcxd5 and the game meandered into a draw.

Rauf Mamedov (AZE) did not give any opportunity to R Praggnanandhaa throughout the game | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Gukesh - Theodorou: 0-1

The only time the World Champion, GM D Gukesh (2767) faced the Greece no.1, GM Nikolas Theodorou (2646) in a Classical rated game was at the very same event in the previous edition in 2023. It had ended in a draw. This time also, the result was heading towards the same direction until White made a drastic mistake.

Position after 33...c4

Black has two deadly connected passed pawns on c4 and d3. However, with correct play, White should not lose this. 34.Ra7+?? was played and Black won the game in the next few moves. Find out why it was a mistake and what White should have done instead.

The World Champion, D Gukesh made a fundamental mistake in the rook and few pawns endgame and paid a heavy price against Nikolas Theodorou (GRE) | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

The defending champion, GM Vidit Gujrathi ended his draw streak by scoring his second win of the event against GM Anton Demchenko (SLO) | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

GM Abhimanyu Puranik got himself a promising position, however he loosened his grip and allowed his opponent GM Richard Rapport (HUN) to escape with a draw | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

GM Leon Luke Mendonca won a 104-move marathon against the Romania no.1, GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

GM Aditya Mittal - GM Boris Gelfand (ISR): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

GM Gabriel Sargissian (ARM) - GM Divya Deshmukh: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Women: Vaishali and Kateryna are coleaders again

Fataliyeva - Vaishali: 0-1

IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE, 2385) was coming into this game with a win over two former Women's World Champions - GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) and GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) in consecutive rounds. She faced GM R Vaishali (2452) only twice in Classical rated games prior to this. Vaishali won one and the other one was a draw. On both occasion Vaishali had the black pieces. Third time also it was the same.

Position after 22...h3

Vaishali played aggressively from the get-go. She made her intentions very clear that she is playing for only one result 22...h3 23.g3 Rhd8 24.Rd1 a5 25.Bxa5 Rxc5 26.Qe1 Bg4 27.Qe2 Rxa5 28.fxg4 Rxa3 and Black went on to win the game.

IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE) - GM R Vaishali, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

GM R Vaishali stopped IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva's (AZE) winning streak to maintain her lead | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

For more photos, please click here and here.

Schedule

Every day game starts at 30 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST from 4th to 15th September 2025. Rest day is on Wednesday 10th September 2025. The last round on 15th September will start at 2 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST.

Time Control

The time control for each game is: 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 50 minutes for the next 20 moves, followed by 15 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1 in the Open section. For Women, the time control is 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

Qualification

Open: The winner and the runner-up of Grand Swiss shall qualify for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026. If any of these players is the FIDE World Champion as of 1 January 2025 or have already qualified for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 at the moment of the beginning of the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2025, or withdraws the qualification spot(s) shall be awarded, in the order of priority, to the player ⁃ in the 3rd place in the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2025; ⁃ in the 2nd place according to the FIDE Circuit 2024 ranking list; ⁃ who is next yet unqualified in the FIDE Circuit 2025 ranking list.

Women: The winner and the runner-up of WGS shall qualify for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2024. If one or both these players has (-ve) already qualified to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 at the moment of the beginning of WGS via different qualification track or do (-es) not need to qualify for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, the qualification spot(s) shall go to the highest-placed player(s) in the final standings who has/have not yet qualified to the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 at the moment of the beginning of WGS.

Prizes

The total prize fund in the Open is US$ 625000 with the first prize being $90000. For Women's the total prize fund is $230000, first prize $40000. Total numbers of prizes are 73, Open - 50 and Women - 23.

Watch live stream

Replay FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss 2023 Round 6 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 6 Open games

Replay Round 6 Women games

Round 6 Open results

d.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
6	1	21	GM	Maghsoodloo Parham	2692	4½	½ - ½	4	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2771	2
6	7	101	GM	Gumularz Szymon	2590	3½	0 - 1	3½	GM	Nihal Sarin	2693	20
6	8	28	GM	Yakubboev Nodirbek	2681	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Pranav V	2596	96
6	9	1	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2785	3	½ - ½	3	GM	Mamedov Rauf	2651	46
6	10	3	GM	Gukesh D	2767	3	0 - 1	3	GM	Theodorou Nikolas	2646	53
6	16	76	GM	Demchenko Anton	2620	3	0 - 1	3	GM	Vidit Santosh Gujrathi	2712	16
6	17	57	GM	Puranik Abhimanyu	2640	3	½ - ½	3	GM	Rapport Richard	2711	17
6	23	18	GM	Harikrishna Pentala	2704	2½	½ - ½	2½	GM	Gurel Ediz	2631	63
6	26	29	GM	Deac Bogdan-Daniel	2674	2½	0 - 1	2½	GM	Mendonca Leon Luke	2615	83
6	31	93	GM	Suleymanli Aydin	2602	2½	½ - ½	2½	GM	Sadhwani Raunak	2658	40
6	33	104	GM	Aditya Mittal	2589	2½	½ - ½	2½	GM	Gelfand Boris	2652	44
6	35	99	GM	Narayanan S L	2591	2½	½ - ½	2½	GM	Grandelius Nils	2648	48
6	40	37	GM	Artemiev Vladislav	2664	2	½ - ½	2	GM	Aryan Chopra	2619	79
6	55	35	GM	Karthikeyan Murali	2669	1	½ - ½	1½	GM	Abdisalimov Abdimalik	2488	112
6	57	70	GM	Sargissian Gabriel	2626	2	½ - ½	2	GM	Divya Deshmukh	2478	115

Details

Standings after Round 6

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	21	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	IRI	2692	5	2722	18,5	21
2	86	GM	Mishra, Abhimanyu	USA	2611	4,5	2727	18,5	20,5
3	2	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	IND	2771	4,5	2678	17,5	19,5
4	32	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias	GER	2671	4,5	2646	17,5	19
5	7	GM	Giri, Anish	NED	2746	4,5	2640	16,5	19
6	20	GM	Nihal, Sarin	IND	2693	4,5	2611	16	18
7	52	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan	TUR	2646	4	2719	18	20
8	87	GM	Maurizzi, Marcandria	FRA	2610	4	2716	18	20,5
9	96	GM	Pranav, V	IND	2596	4	2678	17,5	19,5
10	54	GM	Rodshtein, Maxim	ISR	2645	4	2669	17,5	19,5
11	4	GM	Firouzja, Alireza	FRA	2754	4	2663	19,5	22
12	43	GM	Sargsyan, Shant	ARM	2653	4	2654	16	18
13	6	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	UZB	2748	4	2653	19	21,5
14	31	GM	Tabatabaei, M. Amin	IRI	2673	4	2642	16,5	19
15	5	GM	Keymer, Vincent	GER	2751	4	2638	17	19,5
16	10	GM	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	AZE	2741	4	2635	16	18,5
17	53	GM	Theodorou, Nikolas	GRE	2646	4	2634	15,5	17
18	12	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	USA	2733	4	2628	15,5	17,5
19	16	GM	Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi	IND	2712	4	2624	16	18,5
20	23	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	NED	2692	4	2622	14,5	17

Details

Round 7 pairings

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
7	1	20	GM	Nihal Sarin	2693	4½	5	GM	Maghsoodloo Parham	2692	21
7	2	2	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2771	4½	4½	GM	Bluebaum Matthias	2671	32
7	9	16	GM	Vidit Santosh Gujrathi	2712	4	4	GM	Maurizzi Marcandria	2610	87
7	10	96	GM	Pranav V	2596	4	4	GM	Van Foreest Jorden	2692	23
7	11	1	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2785	3½	4	GM	Rodshtein Maxim	2645	54
7	12	8	GM	Aronian Levon	2744	3½	3½	GM	Puranik Abhimanyu	2640	57
7	14	83	GM	Mendonca Leon Luke	2615	3½	3½	GM	Yu Yangyi	2714	15
7	21	63	GM	Gurel Ediz	2631	3	3	GM	Gukesh D	2767	3
7	24	69	GM	Sjugirov Sanan	2627	3	3	GM	Harikrishna Pentala	2704	18
7	30	40	GM	Sadhwani Raunak	2658	3	3	GM	Predke Alexandr	2609	90
7	32	44	GM	Gelfand Boris	2652	3	3	GM	Narayanan S L	2591	99
7	37	59	GM	Xiong Jeffery	2640	3	3	GM	Aditya Mittal	2589	104
7	46	79	GM	Aryan Chopra	2619	2½	2½	GM	Amin Bassem	2636	62
7	55	80	GM	Hammer Jon Ludvig	2618	1½	1½	GM	Karthikeyan Murali	2669	35
7	57	115	GM	Divya Deshmukh	2478	2½	2½	GM	Ivic Velimir	2630	64

Details

Round 6 Women results

Bo.	No.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	No.
1	4	GM	Lagno, Kateryna	2505	4	1 - 0	4	IM	Wagner, Dinara	2400	26
2	33	IM	Fataliyeva, Ulviyya	2385	4	0 - 1	4	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	2452	13
3	2	GM	Tan, Zhongyi	2531	3½	0 - 1	3½	GM	Stefanova, Antoaneta	2395	27
4	22	WIM	Khamdamova, Afruza	2409	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	2505	3
5	30	GM	Girya, Olga	2386	3½	½ - ½	3½	IM	Song, Yuxin	2409	21
6	48	IM	Balajayeva, Khanim	2331	3	0 - 1	3½	IM	Guo, Qi	2371	42
7	49	WIM	Karimova, Guldona	2324	3	0 - 1	3	GM	Muzychuk, Mariya	2484	6
8	55	WCM	Khalilova, Madinabonu	2148	3	0 - 1	3	IM	Tsolakidou, Stavroula	2445	15
9	18	WGM	Shukhman, Anna	2420	3	0 - 1	3	IM	Bulmaga, Irina	2400	25
10	32	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	2386	2½	½ - ½	2½	GM	Muzychuk, Anna	2535	1

Details

Standings after Round 6

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	13	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	IND	2452	5	2408	18,5	20,5
2	4	GM	Lagno, Kateryna	FID	2505	5	2406	18,5	21
3	42	IM	Guo, Qi	CHN	2371	4,5	2445	15	17
4	27	GM	Stefanova, Antoaneta	BUL	2395	4,5	2382	16	18
5	33	IM	Fataliyeva, Ulviyya	AZE	2385	4	2481	19,5	22,5
6	30	GM	Girya, Olga	FID	2386	4	2450	18	20
7	26	IM	Wagner, Dinara	GER	2400	4	2417	19,5	21
8	22	WIM	Khamdamova, Afruza	UZB	2409	4	2406	17	19
9	21	IM	Song, Yuxin	CHN	2409	4	2402	17,5	19
10	3	GM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	KAZ	2505	4	2390	18	20,5

Details

Round 7 pairings

Bo.	No.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	No.
1	27	GM	Stefanova, Antoaneta	2395	4½		5	GM	Lagno, Kateryna	2505	4
2	13	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	2452	5		4½	IM	Guo, Qi	2371	42
3	3	GM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	2505	4		4	IM	Bulmaga, Irina	2400	25
4	6	GM	Muzychuk, Mariya	2484	4		4	WIM	Khamdamova, Afruza	2409	22
5	15	IM	Tsolakidou, Stavroula	2445	4		4	GM	Girya, Olga	2386	30
6	21	IM	Song, Yuxin	2409	4		4	IM	Fataliyeva, Ulviyya	2385	33
7	26	IM	Wagner, Dinara	2400	4		3½	GM	Tan, Zhongyi	2531	2
8	11	IM	Yip, Carissa	2458	3½		3½	IM	Garifullina, Leya	2477	8
9	9	GM	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	2472	3½		3½	GM	Dronavalli, Harika	2467	10
10	44	GM	Krush, Irina	2366	3½		3	WGM	Gaal, Zsoka	2388	29

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations: Open and Women

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